PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Allison Curtin scored 16 points and Melissa Parker added 11 as 15th-ranked Illinois prepared for a difficult stretch with an 80-54 thumping of Duquesne.

Curtin scored 11 points in the first half as the Illini (4-1) gained a 36-20 lead in its first game after finishing third in the Preseason WNIT.

Curtin was 5-for-10 from the floor and played just 24 minutes while Parker played 20. Susan Blauser grabbed 11 rebounds and Tauja Catchings added 10 rebounds for Illinois, which did not have a starter play more than 28 minutes.

The Illini prevailed despite shooting just 52 percent (13-of-25) from the foul line. Their next three games are against No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 1 Connecticut, and Texas.

Lynndee Howell and Oxana Shetko scored nine points apiece for Duquesne (1-1), which shot 28 percent (16-of-57) from the floor with its starters making just 9-of-43 shots.