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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois used big scoring runs in both the second and third quarters to secure a 73-50 victory over Southern Indiana at State Farm Center on Sunday.
With the win, the Fighting Illini picked up their 50th triumph under the guidance of third-year head coach Shauna Green.
Berry Wallace registered a career-high 18 points, 12 of which came in the second period of play. Scoring in double figures for the first time in her career, Wallace made three 3-pointers, shot 5-for-10 from the field and 3-for-7 from beyond the arc, and tallied four rebounds, two blocks, and one steal.
Adalia McKenzie posted her eighth double-digit scoring outing of the campaign, recording 16 points. Three of McKenzie’s five rebounds came on the offensive glass, and she also tacked on four assists and a steal.
Genesis Bryant also finished in double figures, closing the contest with 12 points, a season-high seven assists, four rebounds, and a steal.
Kendall Bostic notched her seventh double-double of the season, totaling 17 points and a season-high 16 rebounds.
Bryant’s 3-pointer opened the scoring before McKenzie accounted for the Illini’s next four points, a stretch that saw the hosts take an early 7-3 edge. The Screaming Eagles closed the opening frame with a 10-2 run, giving the visitors a 13-9 advantage through the first 10 minutes.
The Orange and Blue started to find their groove on both ends of the floor in the second quarter. Illinois began the period with a 15-0 run, which featured 10 points and two 3-pointers from Wallace, to push the Illini edge into double digits for the first time. Holding the Screaming Eagles scoreless for the first 8:53 of the frame, the Illini outscored the away side, 19-4, in the second quarter to give Illinois a 28-17 lead after two periods of play.
Wallace led all scorers with 12 first-half points, while Bostic corralled 10 rebounds while playing all 20 minutes.
After Southern Indiana reduced its deficit to single digits, Illinois responded with a 12-0 run over the next three-and-a-half minutes to extend its advantage to 44-23. Wallace began that stretch with her third 3-pointer of the day before Bryant got her trey to rattle home just over a minute later. McKenzie’s and-1 layup brought her into double figures before Bryant’s jumper capped off the run.
An 8-0 Southern Indiana run to start the fourth quarter cut the Screaming Eagles’ deficit down to 12 with just under eight minutes remaining. Entering the frame with six points, Bostic accounted for the Illini’s first seven points of the final period, which helped the Illini maintain their double-digit advantage. Holding the Screaming Eagles without a field goal for the final four-and-a-half minutes, Illinois concluded the contest on a 14-1 run to secure the 23-point victory.
Illinois closes its nonconference slate at State Farm Center on Friday against Southern. The Fighting Illini and the Jaguars will tip off at 12 p.m. CT on B1G+.
HIGHLIGHTS
PRESS CONFERENCE
POSTGAME NOTES
Player Notes:
Genesis Bryant scored 12 points to go along with four rebounds and seven assists.
Scored in double figures for the sixth time this season and the 56th time in her career.
Has done so in three-straight games, a new season-long streak.
Her seven assists are a new season-high mark.
Jasmine Brown-Hagger scored four points and added three steals.
Made the second start of her career in as many games.
Brynn Shoup-Hill scored three points, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked a career-high matching three shots.
Has six games this season with at least nine boards.
Adalia McKenzie scored 16 points while adding five rebounds and four assists.
Scored in double figures for the eighth time this season and for the 64th time in her career.
Has double-digit points in four of the last five games.
Has three games this season with at least four assists.
Kendall Bostic scored 17 points and secured 16 rebounds.
Fourth player in the country this season to record a game with at least 17 points and 16 rebounds.
Her third such game of her Illini career, two games shy of matching Karisma Penn (5) and Jenna Smith (5) for most such games by an Illini since the 2002-03 season.
Registered her seventh double-double of the season and the 41st of her career.
Now just one double-double shy of a tie for second place on the program’s career double-doubles list.
1. Jenna Smith – 53 (2006-10)
2. Karisma Penn – 42 (2009-13)
T3. Kendall Bostic – 41 (2021-Pres.)
Grabbed a season-high 16 rebounds.
Posted her eighth double-digit rebound game of the season and the 62nd such game of her career…reached 10 rebounds with 1:42 left in the second quarter.
Continues to climb the program’s all-time rebounding list:
1. Jenna Smith (2006-10) – 1,217
2. Kendall Bostic (2021-pres.) – 1,115
Her 16 rebounds marked the most by an Illini this season.
Has scored in double figures for the 10th time this season and the 59th time in her career.
Has done so in nine-straight games.
Berry Wallace scored a game-high 18 points and had four rebounds.
First sub off the bench for the Illini, entering for the first time with 1:12 remaining in the first quarter.
Scored in double figures for the first time in her career, reaching the 10-point mark with 1:52 remaining in the second quarter.
Knocked down multiple 3-pointers for the first time in her career, going 3-for-7 from beyond the arc.
Team Notes:
The Illini won the opening tip, and Illinois opened the scoring with Genesis Bryant’s 3-pointer on the team’s second possession of the afternoon.
The Illini had four scorers in double figures (Bostic, Bryant, McKenzie, Wallace).
Illinois held Southern Indiana scoreless for the first 8:53 of the second quarter while going on a 12-0 run during that span to take an 11-point lead.
The Illini held the Screaming Eagles to just four points in the second quarter, taking all 11-point lead into halftime.
Illinois held Southern Indiana to 0-for-12 from the floor during the scoreless stretch while also forcing five turnovers.
The Illini used a 10-0 run over a 2:48 span in the third quarter to take a 21-point lead in the contest.
Illinois held Southern Indiana to 0-for-3 from the floor while forcing three turnovers during that stretch.
Illinois closed the game with an extended 14-1 run over the final 3:54 of the ballgame, holding Southern Indiana scoreless during the final 2:32 of the contest.
Held the Screaming Eagles to 0-for-4 from the floor and forcing three turnovers during that span.
Illinois outrebounded Southern Indiana, 44-26, the 10th time this season the Illini have won the battle on the boards.
The Illini also held a 17-8 advantage on the offensive glass, scoring 23 second-chance points.
Illinois has posted a +10 rebounding margin or better in four-straight games.
The Illini have forced double-digit turnovers in all 11 games this season.
Scored 17 points off of 20 takeaways.
Misc. Notes:
Starters: Genesis Bryant, Jasmine Brown-Hagger, Adalia McKenzie, Brynn Shoup-Hill, Kendall Bostic
This lineup is now 2-0 on the season.
Shauna Green is now:
50-27 at Illinois
177-77 as a Division I head coach
206-102 Overall
Shauna Green became the joint-fastest Illini head coach to reach 50 wins at the helm of the program, tying Hall of Fame coach Theresa Grentz’s mark after guiding Illinois to victory against Southern Indiana on Sunday.
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
Shauna Green is now tied for sixth on the program’s all-time wins list.
Illinois has won 11-consecutive games at State Farm Center, which is tied for the second-longest such streak in program history.
1. 18 games – 12/20/1997 to 1/5/1999
T2. 11 games – 2/14/1986 to 1/30/1987
T2. 11 games (Active) – 2/19/2024 to Current
Illinois vs. Southern Indiana: 1-0 (first meeting)
The Illini have held opponents at/below 15 points in 28 of 44 regulation periods.
Illinois is now 7-1 when wearing white uniforms this season.
The Illini are now 3-1 in games starting before 5 p.m. CT this season.
Illinois is now 2-1 in games played on Sundays this season.
The Illini are now 3-1 in December.
Score after 1st Quarter: 9-13
Score at Halftime: 28-17 (19-4 Q2)
Score after 3rd Quarter: 52-32 (24-15 Q3)
Score after 4th Quarter: 73-50 (21-18 Q4)
