NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No. 19 Illinois suffered its first loss of the season in a 76-53 defeat to No. 14 Kentucky on Wednesday night in the team’s final game at the Music City Classic.
The Illini moved to 6-1 on the season following the setback against the ranked Wildcats.
Adalia McKenzie registered a team-high 18 points while going 10-for-12 from the free-throw line. Five of McKenzie’s six rebounds came on the offensive glass, while she also dished out three assists.
Kendall Bostic, who made her 100th consecutive start since joining the Illini, recorded her fourth double-double of the season, finishing the night with 10 points and 12 rebounds. She added one block and one assist.
Makira Cook totaled 11 points, while Gretchen Dolan scored nine points off the bench.
Brynn Shoup-Hill secured 10 rebounds, her second straight game with double-digit boards.
The Illini outscored the Wildcats at the free-throw line, 20-1, while also holding the edge in free-throw attempts, 27-2.
The Wildcats capitalized on some early shooting struggles from the Illini, with Kentucky jumping out to an 8-2 edge. The Orange and Blue cut their deficit in half via a 3-point play on an and-one layup from McKenzie, though UK held the lead for a majority of the opening frame. Illinois finished strong, using an 11-2 run to close the period to take an 18-14 lead after 10 minutes of play.
McKenzie scored eight points in the first quarter, while the Illini shot 6-for-6 from the free-throw line during the first frame.
Kentucky used a 12-4 run across the first eight minutes of the second quarter to re-establish a four-point advantage, but Illinois pieced together a 6-2 stretch to close the period to tie the game heading into halftime, 28-28.
Five Illini scorers had at least four points in the first half, led by McKenzie’s 8-point effort.
An 8-1 run from the Wildcats to start the third quarter gave Kentucky its largest lead of the game at that point and led to an early Illini timeout. McKenzie climbed into double digits by scoring Illinois’ first three points of the period.
The Wildcats extended their advantage to double digits for the first time, and that same margin remained with 90 seconds remaining in the frame. The Illini, once again, closed the quarter on a positive note, using an and-1 layup from Dolan and free throws from Cook to cut the team’s deficit to 50-44 heading into the final period of play.
Kentucky used an 18-0 run in the fourth quarter to pull away for good and hand the Illini their first loss of the season.
Next up on No. 19 Illinois’ schedule is a trip to Canisius for the team’s first true road game of the season. Playing against the alma mater of head coach Shauna Green and in the hometown of sophomore Gretchen Dolan, the Illini will take on the Golden Griffins on Monday at 5 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
POSTGAME RADIO INTERVIEW
POSTGAME NOTES
Player Notes:
Genesis Bryant finished with five rebounds and two steals.
Registered multiple steals for the second time this season and for the 18th time in her Illini career.
Bryant’s five rebounds set a new season-best tally.
Makira Cook recorded 11 points while making six free throws and totaling one rebound, one assist, and one steal.
Reached double figures in scoring for the fourth time this season and for the 86th time in her career.
Surpassed the 10-point mark with a 3-pointer with 3:24 remaining in the contest.
Went 6-for-8 from the free-throw line.
Had at least 6+ makes from the charity stripe for the second time this season.
Brynn Shoup-Hill finished with four points, 10 rebounds, two blocks, and a steal.
Registered double-digit rebounds for the second consecutive game and for the third time this season/in her career.
Made multiple blocks for the third time this season.
Adalia McKenzie led the Illini in scoring with 18 points while also amassing six rebounds and three assists.
Scored in double digits for the fifth time this season and 61st time of her career.
Had a game-high eight points in the first quarter while going 4-for-4 from the free-throw line across the opening 10 minutes.
Went 10-for-12 from the free-throw line.
Registered double-digit free throws for the second time in her career and for the first time since posting a career-high 14 makes at Wisconsin on Dec. 29, 2022.
Kendall Bostic posted a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Turned in her fourth double-double of the season and 38th of her career.
Now moves into a tie for fourth on the program’s career double-double list.
1. Jenna Smith – 53 (2006-10)
2. Karisma Penn – 42 (2009-13)
3. Chatrice White – 40 (1984-87)
T-4. Kendall Bostic – 38 (2021-Pres.)
T-4. Lynette Robinson – 38 (1978-82)
Made her 100th straight start since joining the Fighting Illini.
Bostic is the first Illini to make 100 consecutive starts since Karisma Penn started 102 consecutive games to end her career from 2009-10 to 2012-13.
Grabbed double-digit rebounds for the fifth time this season and for the 59th time in her career.
Equaled her season-best rebound total (12).
Secured her 10th board with 9:26 remaining in the third quarter.
Had a team-high nine rebounds in the first half.
Scored in double figures for the sixth time this season and for the 55th time in her career.
Reached double figures with 4:22 left in the third quarter.
Gretchen Dolan was the first Illini off the bench on Wednesday, adding nine points.
Has at least nine points for the fifth time this season.
Team Notes:
The Wildcats won the opening tip and went on to open the scoring.
The Illini held the Wildcats without a point for the final 3:20 of the first quarter, with Illinois going on a 7-0 run during that time to take an 18-14 lead.
Illinois has now outscored its opponents, 145-69, in the first
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