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LOS ANGELES – No. 25 Illinois fought from start to finish but fell on the road to No. 3 UCLA, 70-55, on Thursday night at Pauley Pavilion.
The Fighting Illini outscored the Bruins, 21-11, in the third quarter to reduce their deficit to four, but it was not enough to take down UCLA on its home court as the Orange and Blue’s program-record eight-game Big Ten winning streak came to a close.
Adalia McKenzie led the Illini scoring attack with 18 points, 12 of which came on 3-for-6 shooting in the second half. McKenzie grabbed three of her four rebounds on the offensive glass and posted two steals, while she played all 40 minutes for the third-consecutive game.
In her first-career start, Berry Wallace finished with 13 points while going 2-for-4 from behind the arc. The true freshman also recorded six rebounds and tied her career-high with two steals.
Scoring in double figures for the ninth game in a row, Genesis Bryant logged all 10 of her points in the second half. She also collected eight assists and secured a rebound.
Kendall Bostic registered eight points, 11 rebounds, two blocks, two steals, and an assist.
No. 25 Illinois finishes its Los Angeles road trip with another ranked matchup on Sunday at 3 p.m. CT, when the Fighting Illini take on No. 4 USC on FS1.
HIGHLIGHTS
PRESS CONFERENCE
POSTGAME NOTES
Player Notes:
Kendall Bostic secured 11 rebounds to go along with eight points, two blocks, two steals, and an assist.
Added to her lead atop the program’s career rebounding list:
1. Kendall Bostic (2021-pres.) – 1,293
2. Jenna Smith (2006-10) – 1,217
Remained in third place on the Big Ten all-time career rebounding list (of players who played in the league) and moved closer to the two players above her:
1. Megan Gustafson (Iowa, 2016-19) – 1,460
2. Jantel Lavender (Ohio State, 2008-11) – 1,422
3. Kendall Bostic (Illinois, 2020-Present) – 1,357
4. Denise Jackson (Indiana, 1981-84) – 1,273
Stayed in ninth place on the program’s single-season rebounding list.
Remained in eighth on the Illinois all-time career blocks list:
1. Alex Wittinger (2016-19) – 274
7. Chatrice White (2014-16 – 123
8. Kendall Bostic (2021-Pres.) – 118
Posted 10+ rebounds for the 20th time this season.
Now has at least six rebounds in all 27 games this season.
Knocked down multiple 3-pointers for the second time this season.
Tied her career-high with two 3-pointers.
Made multiple blocks for the eighth time this season.
Has done so in four of the last five games.
Grabbed multiple steals for the fifth time this season.
Genesis Bryant poured in 10 points and dished out eight assists.
Scored in double figures for the 21st time this season and for the 71st time in her career.
Has also done so in nine-straight games.
Connected on two 3-pointers to continue to climb the Illinois career makes list:
1. Amber Moore (2009-14) – 295
2. Lori Bjork (2005-08) – 214
3. Krista Reinking (1994-98) – 194
4. Genesis Bryant (2022-Present) – 191
Her eight assists marked her second-best output in a game this season.
Has 4+ assists in five-straight games and 6+ assists in three of her last four appearances.
Adalia McKenzie paced the Illini in scoring with 18 points while also tallying four rebounds and two steals.
Scored in double figures for the 21st time this season and the 77th time in her career.
Has 10+ points in four-straight games.
Scored 10 points in the third quarter behind 2-for-3 shooting from the field and 6-for-8 from the free throw line.
Posted multiple steals for the sixth time this season.
Has multiple steals in back-to-back games for the first time this season.
Has played all 40 minutes in each of the last three games.
Berry Wallace finished with 13 points, six rebounds, and two assists.
Made the first start of her collegiate career.
Was the first Illini freshman to enter the starting lineup since Adalia McKenzie did so on March 3, 2022, against Nebraska in the Big Ten Tournament.
Was the first Illinois freshman to start a regular season game since Adalia McKenzie on Feb. 27, 2022, at Rutgers.
Scored in double figures for the ninth time this season.
Has 10+ points in five of the last six games and in seven of the last nine.
Registered a team-high 10 points in the first half.
Made multiple 3-pointers for the 10th time this season.
Went 2-for-4 from beyond the arc.
Has multiple treys in five of the last six games.
Grabbed two steals.
Equaled her career-best tally and marked her most in a Big Ten game.
Recorded multiple steals for the second time in her career.
Team Notes:
UCLA won the opening tip, and the Bruins opened the scoring on their opening possession.
The Illini had three double-figure scorers (McKenzie [18], Wallace [13], Bryant [10]).
Illinois closed the third quarter on an 11-3 run across the final 3:33 of the frame.
Outscored the Bruins in the third quarter, 21-11.
Illinois forced UCLA into 11 turnovers and scored eight points off of them.
The Illini have forced double-digit turnovers in 26 of their 27 games this season.
The Illini held the Bruins to 32 points in the first half, tied for their third-fewest first-half points this season.
Their 32 first-half points were their second-fewest in a home game this season.
Illinois scored 15 second-chance points on 16 offensive rebounds.
Misc. Notes:
Starters: Genesis Bryant, Adalia McKenzie, Berry Wallace, Brynn Shoup-Hill, Kendall Bostic
This lineup is now 0-1 on the season.
The loss snapped the Illini’s eight-game winning streak, their longest such streak in Big Ten play in program history.
Shauna Green is now:
62-31 at Illinois
30-22 in Big Ten play
189-81 as a Division I head coach
218-106 overall
Illinois vs. UCLA: 3-2 (fifth meeting)
Shauna Green’s coaching record vs. UCLA: 0-1
Illinois is now 1-2 against UCLA when playing in Los Angeles.
Illinois moved to 6-3 away from home this season.
The Illini have held opponents at/below 15 points in 63 of 108 regulation periods.
Illinois is now 7-3 when wearing blue uniforms this season and 17-11 when doing so under Green.
The Illini are now 13-2 in games starting after 5 p.m. CT this season.
Illinois is now 9-1 in games played on Thursdays this season.
The Illini are now 5-1 in February.
Illinois is now 10-3 during the 2025 calendar year.
Score after 1st Quarter: 8-14
Score at Halftime: 18-32 (10-18 Q2)
Score after 3rd Quarter: 39-43 (21-11 Q3)
Score after 4th Quarter: 55-70 (16-27 Q4)
