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Illinois Starters Last Game
Pos.
No.
Name
Ht.
Yr.
PPG
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
Season Note
G
1
Genesis Bryant
5-6
5th
14.8
3.6
3.7
1.1
0.0
10+ points in eight straight games
G
8
Jasmine Brown-Hagger
5-9
So.
8.7
1.9
2.0
1.0
0.0
Has scored at least nine points in three of the last four games
G
24
Adalia McKenzie
5-10
Sr.
13.4
4.7
3.3
1.0
0.1
Has 10+ points in 11 of 15 B1G games and in 20 games overall this season
F
23
Brynn Shoup-Hill
6-3
Sr.
5.4
6.0
1.1
0.5
1.0
Has 8+ rebounds in nine games this season
F
44
Kendall Bostic
6-2
5th
15.9
11.1
1.8
0.6
0.9
Became the program’s career rebounding leader against Purdue on Jan. 27
Head Coach Shauna Green
Career Record: 218-105 (.675), 11th season
Division I Record: 189-80 (.703), Ninth season
At Illinois: 62-30 (.674), Third season
Big Ten Record: 30-21 (.588), Third season
OPENING TIP
The 51st campaign of Fighting Illini women’s basketball continues on Thursday night, when No. 25 Illinois travels to the West Coast to take on No. 3 UCLA at 8:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network. Mike Koon will call the action for the Illini on the Busey Bank Illini Sports Network (1400 AM / 93.9 FM). Streaming, audio, and stats links are also available at FightingIllini.com/wbb.
Illinois won 10 games before Christmas (Dec. 25) for the first time since 2022-23 and for the second time since 2006-07.
Illinois has earned a win over a ranked opponent for the third consecutive season and is up to five under Green.
Head coach Shauna Green earned her 200th win as a head coach on Nov. 14, 2024 vs. Eastern Illinois.
The Fighting Illini have now been ranked in the Top 25 in all three seasons under Green.
Illinois faced a ranked team in its Big Ten opener for the third straight season (#12/7 Ohio State, –/25 Michigan, #5/4 Indiana).
Illinois returned four 1,000-career point scorers, tied for the most in the NCAA with Baylor, Notre Dame, and Kansas State.
Illinois has won multiple Top-25 games in the same season for the first time since 2014-15.
Illinois has won three Top-25 games in the same season for the first time since 1999-2000.
The Fighting Illini’s eight-game Big Ten winning streak (as of Feb. 19, 2025), is a new program record.
Needing just 25 games to reach a 20-win season, the 2024-25 Illini squad matched the program record for quickest to 20 victories.
Illinois’ four team turnovers in its 67-55 win over Penn State (2/13/25), set a new program single-game record.
Illinois’ seniors (Cook, Bryant, McKenzie, Shoup-Hill, Bostic) have a combined 466 career starts (440 at Illinois) and played a combined 608 games (480 at Illinois).
Kendall Bostic’s 1,346 career rebounds rank second of all active NCAA D1 players and is the active Big Ten-leading mark.
On Jan. 27, 2025, Kendall Bostic grabbed the 1,218th rebound of her Illinois career and broke Jenna Smith’s all-time Illinois record of 1,217 boards.
Also on Jan. 27, 2025, Bostic moved into third place on the Big Ten’s career rebounding list, surpassing Indiana’s Denise Jackson (1981-84) at 1,273 rebounds.
Kendall Bostic owns 51 double-doubles across her Illinois career, ranking second in school history behind Jenna Smith’s 53.
Illinois’ free throws made per game mark of 15.65 ranks 15th in the NCAA.
Illinois’ 12.0 turnovers per game rank 12th in the NCAA.
Illinois’ free throw percentage of 79.8% ranks 6th in the NCAA and leads the Big Ten.
The Fighting Illini are second in the Big Ten with a 27.8% 3-point defensive rate, which ranks 46th in the NCAA.
Eight different Illini scorers have posted double-digit points in a game this season: Bostic, Bryant, Brown-Hagger, Cook, Dolan, McKenzie, Shoup-Hill, Wallace.
ILLINI ON TV
Illinois will play its seventh game on national television when No. 25 Illinois takes on No. 3 UCLA away from home on Thursday, with first tip slated for 8:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network. The contest will be the seventh of nine nationally televised games that the Illini are currently set to play during the 2024-25 regular season; each of the Illini’s final four games of the regular season are slated to be televised:
» Nov. 7, 7 p.m. CT, vs. Marquette – Big Ten Network
» Dec. 8, 3 p.m. CT, at No. 12 Ohio State – Big Ten Network
» Dec. 31, 12 p.m. CT vs. Washington – Big Ten Network
» Jan. 23, 7 p.m. CT, at Northwestern – Big Ten Network
» Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m. CT, vs. Purdue – Big Ten Network
» Feb. 16, 4 p.m. CT, vs. Nebraska – Big Ten Network
» Feb. 20, 8:30 p.m. CT, at No. 3 UCLA – Big Ten Network
» Feb. 23, 3 p.m. CT, at No. 4 USC – Fox Sports 1
» March 2, 12:30 p.m. CT, vs. Michigan – Big Ten Network
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
UCLA, boasting a 24-1 record and a 12-1 mark in Big Ten play, has been ranked among the top teams in the nation all season long. After starting the 2024-25 campaign ranked No. 5, the Bruins spent 12 weeks as the No. 1 team in the AP Top-25 Poll, though a road loss to No. 6 USC last week dropped UCLA down to No. 3 heading into Thursday’s matchup at Pauley Pavilion.
The Bruins began their season with 23-consecutive wins, including seven ranked victories: No. 1 South Carolina, No. 8 Maryland, No. 8 Ohio State, No. 17 Louisville, No. 22 Michigan State, No. 24 Michigan, and No. 25 Baylor.
UCLA holds the longest active home winning streak in the Big Ten with 17-consecutive home wins, with the Bruins posting an 11-0 mark at Pauley Pavilion this season entering this week’s contest. Thursday’s hosts also lead the Big Ten in points allowed per game (55.9 PPG).
ALL-TIME SERIES INFORMATION
Heading into the fifth all-time meeting between Illinois and UCLA, the Illini hold the 3-1 edge in the series, which dates back to 1985. Though this marks the Orange and Blue’s first trip to Los Angeles for a Big Ten matchup with the Bruins, Illinois is 1-1 in games played away from home against UCLA.
The Fighting Illini won the most recent matchup between the sides, 78-63, on Dec. 19, 2004, when the teams met in Champaign. This Thursday’s contest will be the Illini’s first trip to Los Angeles to take on UCLA since Nov. 24, 2003.
RANKED ILLINI
For the third straight season under head coach Shauna Green, Fighting Illini women’s basketball is ranked in the Associated Press Top-25 Poll, coming in at No. 25 in the Feb. 18 poll. On an eight-game winning streak, the Fighting Illini hold a 21-5 record overall and an 11-4 mark in Big Ten play.
The Illini have been ranked in 10 combined AP polls under head coach Shauna Green. In 2022-23, the Orange and Blue appeared in four Top-25 polls, followed by the preseason rankings in 2023-24, the Week 2-5 polls in 2024-25, and this week’s poll.
Green joins Naismith Hall of Famer Theresa Grentz as the only coaches in program history to lead their teams to AP Top-25 ranking appearances in three straight seasons. The last time Illinois was ranked in three straight seasons was a five-season span from 1996-97 through 2000-01.
ILLINOIS SETS PROGRAM RECORD WITH EIGHTH-STRAIGHT B1G WIN
For the first time in program history, Illinois has won eight Big Ten games in a row, which the Illini achieved with their 77-68 win over Nebraska on Feb. 16. Breaking the previous mark of seven-consecutive conference victories, the Orange and Blue have won four road games and four home contests en route to the new program record.
During this historic stretch, Illinois has outscored opponents by an average of 15.4 points; shot 44.3% from the field, 42.0% from 3-point range, and 81.9% from the free throw line as a team; and averaged 17 assists and 11.6 forced turnovers per game. Four players have averaged over 10 points per game during the eight-game winning streak, with Genesis Bryant leading the way with 16.9 points per game.
ILLINOIS’ RECORD-SETTING EIGHT-GAME B1G WINNING STREAK
Date
Opponent
Score
Jan. 23, 2025
at Northwestern
85-60
Jan. 27, 2025
Purdue
74-38
Jan. 30, 2025
at Rutgers
69-65 (OT)
Feb. 2, 2025
at No. 14 Maryland
66-65
Feb. 6, 2025
Northwestern
73-60
Feb. 9, 2025
at Wisconsin
74-51
Feb. 13, 2025
Penn State
67-55
Feb. 16, 2025
Nebraska
77-68
LAST TIME OUT
Illinois used a dominant second half to defeat Nebraska, 77-68, at State Farm Center on Sunday evening.
With four scorers in double figures, the Fighting Illini clinched their eighth Big Ten win in a row, the longest streak in program history, to improve to 21-5 overall and 11-4 in conference play.
Playing all 40 minutes, Adalia McKenzie led the way offensively with 23 points after scoring 17 points on 60% shooting in the second half. McKenzie also tallied eight rebounds, seven assists, and a season-most four steals.
Kendall Bostic secured her career-best 17th double-double of the season, with the Illini fifth year posting 19 points and 11 rebounds. She also notched an assist and a block.
Berry Wallace recorded a team-high 10 points in the first half before finishing with 15 points. Going 6-for-9 from the field and 3-for-4 from deep, Wallace also collected three rebounds and an assist.
Genesis Bryant logged 12 points, four assists, three rebounds, and a steal while going 4-for-4 from the free throw line.
Brynn Shoup-Hill closed the evening with eight points, six rebounds, three assists, a block, and a steal.
Bostic, Bryant, McKenzie, Shoup-Hill, and Wallace all played the entirety of the second half, with the Orange and Blue outscoring the Huskers across the final 20 minutes, 47-37.
ILLINI CONTINUE TO BATTLE DESPITE INJURY BUG
Through the team’s first 26 games of the season, Illinois has yet to have its full 14-player roster available. Holding an 21-5 record despite those setbacks, the Illini have remained resilient while battling injury issues throughout the campaign.
Eight different players have missed at least one game due to injury or illness this season, including sophomore transfer center Lety Vasconcelos, who was expected to be a key piece in the rotation before suffering a season-ending ACL tear over the summer. On Jan. 8, the program announced that fifth-year Makira Cook (ongoing health condition) and sophomore Gretchen Dolan (knee) would both miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season. Illinois is now 10-1 since announcing Cook and Dolan would miss the remainder of the season.
Five-star freshman guard Berry Wallace (hand) missed seven of the first eight games, while junior forward Shay Bollin, who played in 29 games for the Illini last season, has yet to make an appearance during the 2024-25 campaign. Freshman Irene Noya Catoira sat out the first seven games of the year while recovering from injury, while guard Jasmine Brown-Hagger, who has since moved into the starting lineup, missed three games while working her way back from a concussion. The latest Illini to miss a game was freshman Hayven Smith at Northwestern.
BIG TEN ROAD WINS
Illinois has won 13 road Big Ten games under Shauna Green, tied for the second-most in program history among Illinois women’s basketball head coaches. In 2024-25, Illinois has brought home victories against Indiana, Northwestern, Rutgers, No. 14 Maryland, and Wisconsin.
BIG TEN ROAD WINS UNDER HEAD COACH SHAUNA GREEN
Rank
Coach
#
Seasons
Tenure
1
Grentz
41
12
1995-2007
T2
Green
13
3
2022-Present
T2
Golden
13
6
1984-1990
4
Law & Bollant (tied)
10
5
2007-12 & 2012-17
BOSTIC MOVES ATOP PROGRAM’S CAREER REBOUNDING LIST
Fifth-year forward Kendall Bostic became the Fighting Illini’s career rebounding leader during Illinois’ game against Purdue on Jan. 27. After tying the previous mark in the first half, Bostic secured her record-breaking board in the third quarter, which saw her climb to 11 rebounds on the night and 1,218 rebounds across her time with the Orange and Blue.
Bostic surpassed Jenna Smith on the program’s all-time rebounding list. Smith, who played at Illinois from 2006-10, posted 1,217 rebounds across her career; Bostic entered Illinois’ game against Purdue needing 10 rebounds to tie the record and 11 rebounds to pass it.
Bostic is the fourth player in program history to record 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds while playing for the Illini.
With a program-record 1,282 rebounds during her time with the Fighting Illini, the Kokomo, Indiana, native sits in third place on the Big Ten’s career rebounding rankings, only behind Iowa’s Megan Gustafson (1,460) and Ohio State’s Jantel Lavender (1,422). Bostic sits at 1,346 career rebounds across her four seasons at Illinois and one season at Michigan State.
GREEN CONTINUES TO CLIMB PROGRAM’S ALL-TIME WIN LIST
Third-year head coach Shauna Green continues to move up the program’s all-time wins list. After the Fighting Illini defeated Nebraska at State Farm Center on Feb. 16, Green posted her 62nd win at the helm of the program, which currently ranks as the fifth-most victories by an Illinois women’s basketball head coach.
ALL-TIME WINS BY ILLINOIS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL HEAD COACHES
Rank
Illini Head Coach
Wins
Number of Seasons
Tenure
1
Theresa Grentz
210
12
1995-2007
2
Laura Golden
83
6
1984-1990
3
Jane Schroeder
73
5
1979-1984
4
Jolette Law
69
5
2007-2012
5
Shauna Green
62
3 (Active)
2022-Present
6
Matt Bollant
61
5
2012-2017
7
Kathy Lindsey
50
5
1990-1995
8
Nancy Fahey
42
5
2017-2022
9
Carla Thompson
33
3
1976-1979
10
Steven Douglas
25
3
1974-1976
SHARP SHOOTING FROM BEYOND THE ARC
Fighting Illini fifth year Genesis Bryant has been instrumental for the Orange and Blue from beyond the 3-point line. Through 91 games at Illinois, Bryant has connected on 189 3-pointers, which currently ranks fourth on UI’s career list.
Bryant connected on 72 3-pointers in 2022-23, her first year at Illinois (178 att., 40.4%). As a senior in 2023-24, she tallied 65 makes from deep (188 att., 34.6%). This year, Bryant has made 52 3-pointers on 136 attempts for a 38.2% clip.
ILLINOIS’ CAREER MADE 3-POINTER LEADERS
Rank
Player
Years
Games
Makes
1
Amber Moore
2009-14
126
295
2
Lori Bjork
2005-08
97
214
3
Krist Reinking
1994-98
111
194
4
Genesis Bryant
2022-Present
91
189
5
Mandy Cunningham
1990-94
110
168
RANKED WINS UNDER COACH GREEN
For the first time since the 2014-15 campaign, the Fighting Illini have secured multiple ranked wins in a season. The Orange and Blue defeated No. 19 Florida State, 83-74, at State Farm Center on Nov. 7 to open the 2024-25 regular season before securing a 62-57 home win over No. 23 Iowa on Jan. 9. Illinois’ most recent ranked victory came in a 66-65 road win over No. 14 Maryland on Feb. 2.
The program has now won five ranked games under third-year head coach Shauna Green, who guided the Illini to ranked wins over No. 12 Iowa (Jan. 1, 2023) during the 2022-23 slate and No. 14 Indiana (Feb. 19, 2024) during the team’s 2023-24 schedule.
RANKED WINS UNDER HEAD COACH SHAUNA GREEN
Date
Opponent
Score
Location
Jan. 1, 2023
No. 12 Iowa
90-86
State Farm Center
Feb. 19, 2024
No. 14 Indiana
86-66
State Farm Center
Nov. 7, 2024
No. 19 Florida State
83-74
State Farm Center
Jan. 9, 2025
No. 23 Iowa
62-57
State Farm Center
Feb. 2, 2025
at No. 14 Maryland
66-65
XFINITY Center (College Park, Md.)
ILLINOIS LEADS B1G IN 3-POINT EFFICIENCY IN CONFERENCE PLAY
During the team’s 11-4 start to conference play, the Illini have shot 39.0% from 3-point range, a mark that leads the Big Ten. Going 94-for-241 from beyond the arc through the first 15 games of its conference slate, Illinois ranks first in 3-point percentage.
The Orange and Blue have posted a 3-point percentage of at least 40% in eight games this season, five of which came away from home. The Illini have recorded their top-four 3-point shooting performances this season in road games (at Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and No. 14 Maryland). Illinois is 6-1 against Big Ten opponents when shooting over 40% from deep.
Illinois (39.0% – 94-for-241)
Indiana (38.7% – 117-for-302)
Washington (38.5% – 112-for-291)
Michigan (36.1% – 112-for-310)
Iowa (35.1% – 113-for-322)
ILLINI FREE THROW SHOOTING IMPROVES SIGNIFICANTLY UNDER COACH GREEN
Since head coach Shauna Green took over the helm of the program, several Illinois student-athletes have made significant strides at the charity stripe while also getting to the free throw line more than ever.
Adalia McKenzie has made huge jumps in her three seasons under Green’s guidance. After going 57.6% from the line as a freshman in 2021-22, McKenzie drastically improved when Green arrived on campus, with the Minnesota native shooting 64.6% as a sophomore. She then posted a 73.7% clip as a junior and, thus far in her senior season, is 77.2% from the stripe, an improvement of nearly 20 percentage points since her first year with the program.
Kendall Bostic has not only become more efficient at the free throw line; she has also found herself at the stripe at a career-best rate. After shooting less than 70% at the line in her first two seasons in Champaign, Bostic has shot over 80% (82.5% in 2023-24 and 84.1% in 2024-25) across the past two years. She has already attempted a career-most 63 free throws this season while making 53 of those attempts, both of which are new career-best marks.
As a team, the Illini set a new program record after shooting 79.5% from the line across all games last season. Their 85.2% (230-for-270) mark in conference play during the 2023-24 campaign secured a new Big Ten single-season record. Illinois currently leads the Big Ten with an 79.8% free throw percentage, just under one percentage point higher than the next-closest team (Washington, 78.9%).
BIG FOURTH QUARTER HELPS ILLINOIS POWER PAST PENN STATE
Illinois used a big fourth quarter to take down Penn State, 67-55, at State Farm Center on Feb. 13.
Now 20-5 overall and 10-4 in Big Ten play this season, the Fighting Illini outscored the Nittany Lions in the final frame, 24-7, en route to their seventh win in a row.
Playing all 40 minutes, Adalia McKenzie recorded a team-high 19 points after posting 11 points in the second half. McKenzie ultimately ended the evening with eight rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
Genesis Bryant finished in double figures for the seventh game in a row, logging 18 points while going 4-for-9 from 3-point range. She also amassed six assists, three rebounds, and two steals.
Jasmine Brown-Hagger added 10 points, going 2-for-2 from the field and 2-for-2 from the free throw line in the second half. She also grabbed a steal.
Kendall Bostic accumulated 12 points, eight rebounds, two blocks, an assist, and a steal while playing all 40 minutes.
ILLINOIS RECORDS DOMINANT ROAD WIN OVER WISCONSIN
Illinois earned its fifth-straight road win and sixth-consecutive victory overall with a 74-51 triumph over Wisconsin on Feb. 9.
The Fighting Illini led by as many as 26 in the contest, ultimately prevailing by 23 to improve to 19-5 overall and 9-4 in Big Ten play this season.
Adalia McKenzie made two 3-pointers, her first outing this season with multiple makes from beyond the arc, and finished with a team-high 18 points. Totaling 12 points across the opening 20 minutes of play, McKenzie ended the afternoon with eight rebounds, six assists, and a steal.
Despite not playing in the fourth quarter, Genesis Bryant registered 11 points while going 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Bryant also dished out a team-most seven assists and grabbed five rebounds.
Kendall Bostic secured the 50th double-double of her career with 15 points and a team-best 11 rebounds. Notching three assists, Bostic also had a big day defensively with three steals and two blocks.
Brynn Shoup-Hill posted 11 points after tallying eight points on 2-for-3 shooting from deep in the second half. Five of her six rebounds came on the offensive glass, and she tacked on an assist and a block.
Jasmine Brown-Hagger added nine points, four rebounds, two steals, and an assist, while Berry Wallace went 3-for-5 en route to a 10-point effort off the bench, her third-straight game in double figures.
ILLINI TAME WILDCATS FOR FIFTH-STRAIGHT VICTORY
Illinois extended its winning streak to five games with a 73-60 win over Northwestern on Thursday night at State Farm Center.
Leading by double digits for nearly 30 minutes of play, the Fighting Illini secured their sixth-straight win over the Wildcats while improving to 18-5 overall and 8-4 in Big Ten play this season.
Genesis Bryant paced the Illini in scoring with 20 points, her third-consecutive game with 20+ points. Going 3-for-5 from 3-point range, Bryant also finished with five rebounds, four assists, and a steal.
Kendall Bostic posted 15 points, her eighth-straight outing with at least 10 points. Equaling her career-high with six assists, Bostic also grabbed nine rebounds and made a season-best three blocks.
Berry Wallace poured in 14 points off the bench, 10 of which came in the first half. Scoring in double figures for the sixth time, she amassed three rebounds and two assists.
Jasmine Brown-Hagger registered nine points, while Adalia McKenzie logged seven points and three assists.
BOSTIC EARNS SPOT ON MCCLAIN AWARD TOP-10 CANDIDATES LIST
Fighting Illini fifth-year forward Kendall Bostic has been named one of the top 10 candidates for the Katrina McClain Award Power Forward of the Year, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced on Feb. 6.
In addition to her recognition as a Top 10 candidate for the McClain Award, Bostic has already earned Big Ten Player of the Week, AP Player of the Week Honorable Mention, and Her Hoops Stats Midseason First Team All-Big Ten honors in her final collegiate campaign. Bostic was also part of the 20-player McClain Power Forward Preseason Watch List.
One of two honorees from the Big Ten, Bostic is the first player in program history to be named a top 10 candidate for any Basketball Hall of Fame’s Naismith Starting 5 award.
Now in its eighth year, the McClain Award honors the legacy of Katrina McClain, who was a two-time All-American, 1987 National Player of the Year, and Class of 2012 Hall of Famer. The award is given annually to the top power forward in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball.
BOSTIC NAMED TO WOMEN’S COLLEGE ALL-STAR GAME WATCH LIST
Fighting Illini fifth year Kendall Bostic has been named to the Women’s College All-Star Game Watch List presented by Herbalife. The Kokomo, Ind., native was one of 68 players appearing on the watch list that represented 51 different programs and 15 conferences.
At the time of her announcement, Bostic was averaging 16.0 points, 11.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 34.5 minutes per game across her final year of collegiate basketball. She has started 115 consecutive games since transferring to Illinois ahead of her sophomore season and now holds the program’s career rebounding record. Bostic is shooting 53% from the field, 30.4% from 3-point range, and 87.5% from the free throw line this season. She owns 49 career double-doubles, all coming with the Orange and Blue. The same day Bostic broke Illinois’ program rebounding record, she moved into third place on the Big Ten’s all-time boards list.
So far, in her final campaign, Bostic has earned Big Ten Player of the Week, AP Player of the Week Honorable Mention, Her Hoops Stats Midseason First Team All-Big Ten, and McClain Power Forward Watch List honors.
The 2025 Women’s College All-Star Game will feature the top senior standouts. Of the more than 60 players that appear on the watch list, 20 will ultimately be selected to participate in the event on Saturday, April 5, in Tampa. The game will tip at 3 p.m. ET and air on ESPN2.
BRYANT EARNS BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD (FEB. 3)
For the third time in her career, Genesis Bryant has earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors, the conference office announced Monday. Putting together three phenomenal performances in Illinois’ 3-0 week, Bryant led the Fighting Illini to two road wins in addition to the program’s first-ever win over Maryland – marking Illinois’ third win over an AP Top-25 ranked team this season.
Bryant averaged 20.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.33 assists, 0.67 steals, 36.6 minutes, and a 1.17 assist-turnover ratio across the 3-0 week. She shot 44.4% (20-for-45) from the field, 55.6% (10-for-18) from 3-point range, and 91.7% from the free throw line.
The Jonesboro, Georgia, native posted 36.6 minutes per game across the three victories, playing all 45 minutes in Illinois’ overtime win over Rutgers and all 40 in the Illini’s road triumph against No. 14 Maryland, the program’s first-ever victory against the Terrapins.
Across the week, Bryant posted her sixth and seventh 20-point outings of the season, and she has now scored in double figures 16 times and in each of her last four appearances.
Bryant was named the Big Ten Player of the Week for the first time since doing so in back-to-back weeks during the 2022-23 season (Dec. 27, 2022, and Jan. 2, 2023). She is the second Illini to earn Big Ten Player of the Week status this season, joining fifth-year forward Kendall Bostic, who earned the accolade on Nov. 25.
BOSTIC, MCKENZIE NAMED TO HER HOOP STATS MIDSEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAMS
Fifth year forward Kendall Bostic has earned All-Big Ten First Team honors from Her Hoops Stats, while senior guard Adalia McKenzie was tabbed with honorable mention accolades.
The Fighting Illini’s career rebounding leader, Bostic is averaging a double-double – 16.1 points and 11.2 rebounds – and was one of six players to earn a spot on the first team. Bostic’s scoring average is on pace to break her career-best total by four points, while her 11.2 rebounds would be her second-best single-season tally. With 14 double-doubles this season, the Kokomo, Indiana, native joins USC’s Kiki Iriafen and Juju Watkins, UCLA’s Lauren Betts, Michigan State’s Julia Ayrault, and Ohio State’s Cotie McMahon on the first team.
McKenzie has filled up the stat sheet in her final season with the Orange and Blue, averaging 13.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while scoring in double figures in 17 games thus far.
ILLINOIS TAKES DOWN THE NO. 14 TERPS AWAY FROM HOME
Illinois secured its first ranked road win since 2019 with a dramatic 66-65 victory over No. 14 Maryland at XFINITY Center on Feb. 2.
With three lead changes in the final 60 seconds, Genesis Bryant knocked down two free throws with six seconds remaining to give the Fighting Illini their first-ever win against the Terrapins and their third ranked triumph of the season.
Playing all 40 minutes, Bryant finished with a game-high 20 points while making two 3-pointers and going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Scoring 10 points in the third quarter alone, Bryant also amassed four rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
Berry Wallace continued to make clutch plays for the Orange and Blue, with the true freshman recording 14 points to along with a career-high four 3-pointers. She also collected two rebounds, an assist, a block, and a steal.
Brynn Shoup-Hill knocked down a 3-pointer with 45 seconds left to give the Illini a late lead. She logged seven points, two assists, and a block, and five of her eight rebounds came on the offensive glass.
Kendall Bostic posted her fifth consecutive double-double, concluding the afternoon with 13 points and 14 rebounds. She also tallied two assists and a block across her 40 minutes of action.
Adalia McKenzie filled the stat sheet with nine points, a career high-tying seven assists, and three rebounds.
The Illini shot 10-for-21 from 3-point range in the road victory, while they turned 10 offensive rebounds into 13 second-chance points.
RESILIENT ILLINI RALLY TO OVERTIME ROAD WIN AT RUTGERS
Illinois battled its way to a hard-fought 69-65 overtime win on the road against Rutgers on Jan. 30.
Four scorers finished in double figures for the Orange and Blue, who are now 16-5 overall and 6-4 in Big Ten play this season. The Illini overcame an 11-point deficit in the game, which is tied for the second-largest comeback Illinois has mounted under head coach Shauna Green.
Playing all 45 minutes, Genesis Bryant poured in 14 points in the fourth quarter and finished with a game-high 28 points, her second-best scoring output this season. Making three big free throws in overtime, Bryant also rattled in a season-high five 3-pointers while collecting six rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
One game after setting the program’s new career rebounding record, Kendall Bostic secured her fourth-straight double-double with 10 points and 11 boards. She also dished out a season-most five assists.
Adalia McKenzie came up clutch in overtime, tallying four points and making the game-saving block in the extra period. McKenzie closed the night with 11 points, five assists, three rebounds, a block, and a steal.
Brynn Shoup-Hill logged all 10 of her points across the final two quarters of regulation and overtime, while she also posted nine rebounds, an assist, a block, and a steal.
Berry Wallace added seven points, five rebounds, and two assists off the bench.
ILLINOIS FINISHES NONCONFERENCE SLATE WITH 10 WINS
For just the fourth time in program history, Illinois registered 10 wins in nonconference play, equaling the program’s all-time record. The Fighting Illini last achieved the feat during the 2022-23 campaign in head coach Shauna Green’s first season at the helm.
The Orange and Blue secured a 10-1 record against nonconference opponents, a stretch that included eight victories at home. Illinois opened its 2024-25 slate with a five-game homestand that featured three teams that played in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Opening the season with a statement win over No. 19 Florida State, the Illini also earned triumphs against Marquette, Eastern Illinois, Le Moyne, and Oregon State in the team’s 5-0 start.
After going 1-1 at the Music City Classic with a victory over UMES and a loss to No. 14 Kentucky, Illinois closed its nonconference schedule without five more triumphs, a stretch that began with a road win over Canisius. Returning to State Farm Center, the Orange and Blue rattled off wins over Bradley, Southern Indiana, and Southern to move to 10-1 in nonconference play.
BOSTIC RANKS AMONG BEST IN THE NCAA
Fifth-year forward Kendall Bostic ranks in the top six in the NCAA in four statistical categories – double-doubles, defensive rebounding average, rebounding average, and total rebounds – in addition to being in the top 60 in field goals, field-goal percentage, and minutes per game. She has also joined the scoring conversation with the 10th-most points in the Big Ten and 12th-most points per game. Bostic also leads the Big Ten in minutes played per game, unheard of for a post player.
BOSTIC RANKS AMONG BEST IN THE NCAA
Stat Category
NCAA Rank
B1G Rank
Value
Double-doubles
2nd
1st
17
Defensive Rebounds Per Game
3rd
1st
9.0
Rebounds
5th
1st
288
Rebounds Per Game
7th
1st
11.1
Field Goals
32nd
4th
176
Field Goal Percentage
44th
4th
53.2
Minutes Per Game
58th
1st
34.76
Points
103rd
10th
413
Points Per Game
127th
12th
15.9
GREEN BECOMES JOINT-FASTEST ILLINI COACH TO 50 WINS
With Illinois’ 73-50 win over Southern Indiana on Dec. 15, third-year head coach Shauna Green secured her 50th win at the helm of the program. Needing only 77 games to achieve that feat, Green became the joint-fastest Fighting Illini women’s basketball coach in program history to reach 50 victories, tying the record that was set by Hall of Fame coach Theresa Grentz.
T1. 77 games: Shauna Green
T1. 77 games: Theresa Grentz
3. 83 games: Laura Golden
4. 94 games: Jane Schroeder
5. 102 games: Matt Bollant
6. 103 games: Jolette Law
7. 132 games: Kathy Lindsey
HOME-COURT ADVANTAGE
Starting the season 9-0 at home, Illinois won 13 consecutive games in State Farm Center between the end of the 2023-24 campaign and the first nine home games of the 2024-25 schedule. The streak ranks as the second-longest such stretch in program history and was the second-longest active streak in the Big Ten prior to the Illini’s defeat against Washington on Dec. 31. Illinois is 36-10 in home games under Shauna Green.
ILLINOIS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL LONGEST HOME WIN STREAKS
Streak
First Win
Last Win
Illini Head Coach
18 games
12/20/1997
1/5/1999
Theresa Grentz
13 games
2/19/2024
12/28/2024
Shauna Green
11 games
2/14/1986
1/30/1987
Laura Golden
10 games
11/20/1981
1/29/1982
Jane Schroeder
BOSTIC EARNS FIRST-CAREER B1G PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD (NOV. 25)
Kendall Bostic delivered a spectacular Week 2 performance on the court to earn the first Big Ten Player of the Week award of her career. The fifth-year senior led the Illini to a 2-0 week after averaging 28 points, 10 rebounds, and one steal while posting zero turnovers as the Fighting Illini climbed to 5-0 after downing their third 2024 NCAA Tournament team of the season.
The Kokomo, Ind., native shot 83.9% from the floor on 26-of-31 attempts and connected on all four of her free-throw attempts. No other Big Ten player was more efficient at a high volume than Bostic, as she made more combined field goals across the week (26) than all but two Big Ten players attempted. Additionally, she was the only Big Ten player with two 20-point games during the week.
In the Illini’s first game of the week, a blowout win over Le Moyne on Nov. 18, Bostic registered the 36th double-double of her career, scoring 25 points (11-for-13 FG) and grabbing 12 rebounds in 23 minutes of action.
In Illinois’ handing of Oregon State on Nov. 22, Bostic became just the fourth player in program history to score 1,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds as an Illini. Bostic also scored a career-high 31 points in the victory over the Beavers and grabbed eight rebounds in 32 minutes of work.
TOP HOME ATTENDANCES
Fighting Illini head coach Shauna Green has re-energized the women’s basketball fan base and delivered two of the top five home attendances in program history through just 70 games at Illinois. Green’s teams have drawn attendances of 13,486, 11,563, and 8,141 across the last three seasons – all three are in the top 13 of all-time largest home game attendances for the program.
The 2024 game vs. Le Moyne that drew 13,486 fans set a new single-game attendance record for home nonconference games at Illinois.
SINGLE-GAME ILLINOIS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL HOME ATTENDANCE TOP 5
Attendance
Opponent
Result
Illini Head Coach
Date
16,450 (sellout & old capacity)
Iowa
W, 86-73
Theresa Grentz
2/21/1999
16,050 (sellout & old capacity)
Purdue
L, 75-80
Theresa Grentz
2/23/1997
13,486
Le Moyne
W, 94-25
Shauna Green
11/18/2024
13,212
Ohio State
W, 70-61
Theresa Grentz
2/20/2000
11,563
Saint Peter’s
W, 103-33
Shauna Green
11/15/2023
ILLINOIS OPENS REGULAR SEASON WITH RANKED WIN
The Fighting Illini started the 2024-25 season with a statement win, taking down No. 19/19 Florida State, 83-74, at State Farm Center on Nov. 7. Four Illini scored in double figures in the ranked nine-point win, including 20-point outings for both Makira Cook and Adalia McKenzie, while the home side never trailed in the contest.
Kendall Bostic (18 points) and Gretchen Dolan (11 points) also finished with double-digit points, which helped the Illini pick up a ranked win for the third consecutive season.
1,000 POINT SCORERS & REBOUNDING
Entering the 2024-25 campaign, Illinois has four players with 1,000+ career points scored. All four (Bostic, Bryant, Cook, McKenzie) have now scored 1,000 during their Illini tenures as well.
To date, 34 Fighting Illini players have scored 1,000 points during their career at Illinois, and only four players have scored 1,000 points and grabbed 1,000 rebounds at Illinois. Kendall Bostic became the fourth player in program history to join the 1,000/1,000 club as an Illini, earning a spot on the exclusive list that features Jenna Smith, Karisma Penn, and Cindy Dallas.
Milestone Marks
Name
Career Points
Career Rebounds
Career Games/Starts
Points at Illinois
Rebounds at Illinois
Games/Starts at Illinois
Makira Cook
1,723
376
118/95
1,152
213
69/69
Adalia McKenzie
1,411
598
119/107
1,411
598
119/107
Genesis Bryant
1,417
334
125/79
1,338
297
91/79
Kendall Bostic
1,424
1,346
141/119
1,331
1,282
119/119
HOME ATTENDANCE NUMBERS
Across 15 home games during the 2022-23 season, Illinois Women’s Basketball saw 52,295 fans fill the State Farm Center en route to a 12-3 record. That total attendance ranked 5th in program history and made Shauna Green the only head coach to bring in 50,000 or more fans in her first season with the Illini.
In Illinois’ 2023-24 season – and home – opener, the attendance of 2,680 marked the largest ticketed season-opening crowd at State Farm Center since 2000 (3,954). In the Illini’s 17 home games last season, Illinois finished with a combined attendance of 63,242 for an average of 3,720 a game. 63,242 is now the fifth-best all-time attendance.
Illinois’ season-opener against Florida State drew a crowd of 3,741 to surpass last year’s season-opening mark by over 1,000 fans. With 13,486 fans in attendance for Field Trip Day; 4,914 fans in the stands of State Farm Center for Pack the House; 5,896 fans on hand against Michigan State on Jan. 19; and 5,881 fans at State Farm Center against Nebraska on Feb. 16, Illinois’ season average is 4,847 per game through 16 home regular-season contests. The Illini are 14-2 at State Farm Center this season.
With one home game remaining, Illinois’ total attendance of 77,548 for the 2024-25 season already ranks third-best in a season in program history.
CONTRACT EXTENSION
Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman announced a two-year contract extension for women’s basketball head coach Shauna Green, which was approved by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees at its Nov. 14 meeting. Initially, the new agreement will keep Green on a six-year contract through at least the 2029-30 season. The agreement also provides Green the opportunity to earn up to four additional one-year extensions if certain performance thresholds are met.
Under Green, Illinois owns a 62-30 record, including a 30-21 mark in Big Ten play. In the first two years under Green, the Illinois women’s basketball team registered 41 wins, the first-ever postseason championship in program history (2024 WBIT), and back-to-back top-five season attendances in State Farm Center. Over the last three seasons, Illinois has delivered four upsets of AP Top-20 ranked teams: No. 12 Iowa (1/1/23), No. 14 Indiana (2/19/24), No. 19 Florida State (11/7/24), and at No. 14 Maryland (2/2/25).
PRO ILLINI
Illinois women’s basketball is represented at the professional level across multiple continents. Former Illini center Camille Hobby joined the professional ranks after spending her fifth year of college at Illinois. Hobby plays for PAOK in Greece. Adrienne Williams Godbold, a guard at Illinois from 2009-13, plays professionally for Bashkimi in Kosovo’s Liga Unike. Brandi Beasley, a guard at Illinois from 2016-20, plays for CJS Geispolsheim in France. Brittany Carter, who played at Illinois from 2014-15, now plays for GIE Cibao Immortals in the Dominican Republic and was the 2024 league MVP. Rebecca Harris, a guard at Illinois from 2006-08, plays for the Bay Area Phoenix in the Women’s Premier Basketball Association (WPBA), helping them to a championship. Harris has also played in the Athletes Unlimited League.
