![[8] Illinois Soars Past [9] #23 Creighton, Earns First NCAA Tournament Win Since 2000](https://i2.wp.com/d1iubivivot1gj.cloudfront.net/images/2025/3/23/20250322_WBB_vs_Creighton_NCAAT_MD-633__1_.jpg?preset=large.socialmediaimage&w=1920&resize=1920,0&ssl=1 "[8] Illinois Soars Past [9] #23 Creighton, Earns First NCAA Tournament Win Since 2000")
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AUSTIN, Texas – [8] Illinois earned its first NCAA Tournament win since 2000, battling to a 66-57 first-round victory over [9] No. 23 Creighton at Moody Center on Saturday night.
The Fighting Illini led for the final 34 minutes, registering their fourth ranked triumph of the season with the nine-point win over the Bluejays.
Genesis Bryant registered double-digit points for the 13th game in a row, leading the Orange and Blue in scoring with 17 points while knocking down two 3-pointers. Bryant made six clutch free throws down the stretch to seal the victory, and she also added four assists and a rebound.
Kendall Bostic became the program’s all-time double-doubles leader with the 54th such performance of her career. Grabbing a season-high 17 rebounds, the most by an Illini in an NCAA Tournament ever, Bostic also collected 12 points, two assists, two blocks, and a steal.
Adalia McKenzie poured in 14 points, grabbed seven rebounds, dished out two assists, and corralled one steal.
Berry Wallace marked her NCAA Tournament debut with 11 points while going 4-for-8 from the field. She also corralled five rebounds and tallied one assist.
Brynn Shoup-Hill logged nine points, while both of her rebounds came on the offensive glass. Making two 3-pointers in the third quarter that swung the momentum back into the Illini’s favor, Shoup-Hill also tacked on an assist and a block.
The Illini took an early lead following a Bryant 3-pointer before the Bluejays briefly went ahead via a 6-0 run. The Orange and Blue countered with a 7-0 scoring stretch to jump back in front, 10-6, with that three-minute stretch featuring three different scorers.
After Creighton cut its deficit in half, Illinois used an 8-2 run across the final four-and-a-half minutes of the frame to take an 18-10 lead through the opening 10 minutes of play.
That advantage climbed into double digits for the first time with 8:30 remaining in the second quarter, with Bryant’s layup moving her into double figures. Back-to-back buckets from McKenzie helped the Illini maintain that 12-point edge, but a 7-0 Bluejay run over a nearly five-minute span cut Creighton’s deficit down to 26-21. A 3-point play from Shoup-Hill ended the Illini’s lengthy scoring drought, extending Illinois’ lead up to eight points.
Illinois eventually entered the intermission with a 31-26 edge after shooting 48% from the field across the opening 20 minutes of action. Bryant led all scorers at the break with 11 first-half points while going 2-for-3 from beyond the arc.
A 5-2 Creighton run to start the second half cut the Bluejays’ deficit down to two, but corner treys from Shoup-Hill on consecutive possessions fueled a 6-0 run to give Illinois a 41-33 edge. After Creighton reduced the Illini lead back down to two, Illinois closed the frame with a 6-2 stretch to hold a 47-41 advantage with 10 minutes left to play.
Already in double figures, McKenzie grabbed a steal early in the fourth quarter and went coast-to-coast for the transition layup. Bostic then made a basket of her own to lengthen the Illini lead back up to double digits, 51-41, with 8:44 to go.
A 6-2 Bluejay run trimmed the Orange and Blue’s edge down to six, but Jasmine Brown-Hagger drained her first 3-pointer of the night to push that advantage back up to nine with just under six minutes remaining.
Creighton continued to battle, posting a 4-0 run to reduce its deficit to four. Bostic’s layup moved the Illini lead back to six before the Bluejays made a layup to cut the Orange and Blue advantage back down to four. After the Illini missed a free throw, Wallace grabbed the offensive rebound before making the putback to help Illinois retake a six-point edge, 60-54, with 1:39 to play.
Bryant made six late free throws to put the game out of reach, clinching the Illini victory.
With the win, [8] Illinois advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Monday, with the Illini set to take on the winner of [1] No. 5 Texas and [16] William & Mary.
PRESS CONFERENCE
POSTGAME NOTES
Player Notes:
Kendall Bostic posted a double-double with 12 points and 17 rebounds while also tallying two assists, two blocks, and a steal.
Became the program’s career double-doubles leader with her 20th double-double of the season and the 54th such performance of her career.
Scored in double figures for the 28th time this season and for the 77th time in her career.
Has 10+ points in 15 of the last 16 games.
Now has surpassed 1,500 points in her career.
Set the program’s NCAA Tournament single-game rebounding record with her 17-rebound performance.
Recorded double-digit rebounds for the 23rd time this season and for the 77th time in her career.
Had 15+ rebounds for the fifth time
Now has at least six rebounds in all 31 games this season.
Added to her lead atop the program’s career rebounding list:
1. Kendall Bostic (2021-pres.) – 1,344
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) – 1,408
4. Denise Jackson (Indiana, 1981-84) – 1,273
Moved into third place on the program’s single-season rebounding list.
1. Jenna Smith (2009-10) – 387
2. Kendall Bostic (2023-24) – 372
3. Kendall Bostic (2024-25) – 350
4. Lynette Robinson (1980-81) – 335
5. Jenna Smith (2007-08) – 329
Played her 124th game as an Illini.
Now tied for sixth on the program’s games played list.
Has not missed a game during her time at Illinois while starting all 124 possible games.
Genesis Bryant led the Illini in scoring with 17 points while also amassing four assists and a rebound.
Scored in double figures for the 25th time this season and for the 75th time in her career.
Has also done so in 13 straight games.
Led all scorers with nine first-quarter points and 11 first-half points.
Scored the 1,500th point of her career in the contest.
Connected on two 3-pointers to solidify her spot in third place on the Illinois career makes list:
1. Amber Moore (2009-14) – 295
2. Lori Bjork (2005-08) – 214
3. Genesis Bryant (2022-Present) – 205
Played all 40 minutes for her seventh complete game of the season.
Has logged 40 minutes in three of the last four games.
Adalia McKenzie poured in 14 points in addition to seven rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
Scored in double figures for the 25th time this season and for the 81st time in her career.
Has 10+ points in each of the last eight games.
Played her 124th game as an Illini.
Now tied for sixth on the program’s games played list.
Brynn Shoup-Hill logged nine points, two rebounds, an assist, and a block.
Scored 9+ points for the seventh time this season.
Made multiple 3-pointers for the second time this season.
Went 2-for-3 from beyond the arc.
Berry Wallace tallied 11 points, five rebounds, and an assist.
Scored in double figures for the 11th time this season.
Made her NCAA Tournament debut.
Registered the fifth start of her collegiate career.
Team Notes:
Creighton won the opening tip, though the Illini opened the scoring on a Genesis Bryant 3-pointer on the team’s second possession of the night.
The Illini had four double-figure scorers (Bostic [12], Bryant [17], McKenzie [14], Wallace [11]).
Illinois forced Creighton into eight turnovers and scored nine points off of them.
The Illini forced single-digit turnovers for just the third time this season.
The Illini outrebounded the Bluejays at a 33-23 clip.
UI grabbed nine offensive rebounds and scored eight second-chance points.
Illinois outscored Creighton in the paint, 32-22.
Misc. Notes:
Starters: Genesis Bryant, Adalia McKenzie, Berry Wallace, Brynn Shoup-Hill, Kendall Bostic
This lineup is now 1-4 on the season.
Shauna Green is now:
63-34 at Illinois
31-25 in Big Ten play
190-85 as a Division I head coach
219-109 overall
Illinois vs. Creighton: 2-0 (second meeting)
The Illini are now 17-0 when allowing 60 points or fewer.
Illinois won its first NCAA Tournament game since March 17, 2000, snapping a three-game skid in the event.
The Illini moved to 9-9 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
Illinois is now 3-2 when playing as the No. 8 seed.
UI is now 3-0 when playing as the No. 8 seed against the No. 9 seed.
The Illini are 3-1 in the 8/9 game (including years when only 40 teams were invited to the NCAA Tournament).
Illinois is 7-2 in the NCAA Tournament First Round.
The Illini have held opponents at/below 15 points in 69 of 124 regulation periods.
Illinois tied its program record for ranked wins in a season with its fourth such victory against No. 23 Creighton.
Also achieved that feat during the 1999-2000 campaign.
The Illini improved to 22-9 on the season.
Illinois’ 22 wins are tied for the third-most victories in a single season in program history.
The Illini are 4-5 against ranked opposition this season.
Illinois is now 14-5 when wearing white uniforms this season and 37-12 when doing so under Green.
UI had just six players get playing time in the victory, the fewest players of any team to play in an NCAA Tournament game thus far this season.
The Illini are now 14-3 in games starting after 5 p.m. CT this season.
Illinois is now 2-0 in games played on Saturdays this season.
The Illini are now 1-2 in March.
Illinois is now 11-6 during the 2025 calendar year.
Illinois is now 2-2 in neutral games this season.
Score after 1st Quarter: 18-10
Score at Halftime: 31-26 (13-16 Q2)
Score after 3rd Quarter: 47-41 (16-15 Q3)
Score after 4th Quarter: 66-57 (19-16 Q4)
