Preseason is intense, conditioning can be rewarding, but isn't exactly enjoyable. Drills can become tedious.

The annual women's basketball Orange and Blue Scrimmage held at Assembly Hall is a break from the routine and a way for the team to have fun while working to the team's goals, winning.

To begin the night, head coach Theresa Grentz let the team know what she was looking for.

"Pretend that you're playing in front of a packed house," Grentz said. "Run the offense, play defense, play together and have fun."

In the limited amount of time that the Illini have had, it was important that the offense continued to progress.

"It is very important to go over plays," sophomore guard Janelle Hughes said. "We have to see how it is back in Assembly Hall. Execution was most important tonight."

Grentz lost only two games throughout her entire collegiate career at Immaculata, and according to her, "They still bug me every day." So the scrimmage would not be void of competition.

"The scrimmage wasn't as competitive as it needed to be, and we were not at the level we needed to be at, but there were positive things out there," Grentz said. "We are only two weeks into the season, there is a lot of work to do."

Before exhibitions these scrimmages are the best indication of where the team is at.

"These scrimmages help a lot," senior forward Aminata Yanni said. "The crowd gets to come out and see us, tonight was the first time the people really got a chance to see us play. Midnight Madness was just a pickup game."

Yanni finished the night as the team's leading scorer, putting up 22 points on a 9-for-15 shooting night.

The team used the scrimmage time to work on both offense and defense.

"Bottom line is, we have a lot more work to do," Grentz said.

The team's execution will become better with time, and in addition to the athletic ability that the Illini already possess the team will be a force in league competition. Along with natural athleticism the team has been following one of Grentz's sayings, "You can't guard what you can't catch."

For most of the team, the Blue and Orange Scrimmage was the first time since the NCAA tournament game of last year that they played in front of a crowd, so there was emphasis on "having fun."

Though sprints up and down the court for conditioning is tough, having fun together for this team is not. This team has a genuine nack for just having fun.

"I really enjoy the camaraderie," Yanni said. "We get along so well and have fun together, it's great. I could be having a bad day and come to practice and just forget about everything and have fun with my teammates."

Along with the enjoyment that comes from being with their teammates, the Illini enjoyed playing in Assembly Hall.

"Playing in front of a crowd feels good," Hughes said. "It's been a long preseason. It didn't even matter how many people were here-it was just nice to play in front of someone besides the coaches."

With the season quickly approaching the Illini are well on their way to championship form. With a Hall of Fame coach and a cast of athletically gifted and talented players the Illini draw closer to achieving the goals that they have set for themselves.

The women's basketball team's next appearance at Assembly Hall will be an exhibition game against the Basketball Travelers on Nov. 8.