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MADISON, Wis. – Illinois earned its fifth-straight road win and sixth-consecutive victory overall with a 74-51 triumph over Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon.
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.
The Illini established a 10-2 edge within the first four minutes of play. Brown-Hagger bagged the first four points for the Orange and Blue before 3-pointers from McKenzie and Bryant forced the Badgers to take an early timeout.
After Wisconsin cut into its deficit from the free throw line, Illinois used a 9-0 run to extend their lead up to 17 points just over six-and-a-half minutes into the opening frame. Going up by as many as 18 through the first 10 minutes, the visitors held a 25-10 advantage heading into the second period.
A 12-4 run early in the second quarter pushed the Orange and Blue’s advantage above the 20-point mark for the first time, while Bryant reached the double-digit scoring mark during that time. McKenzie scored the team’s final five points of the first half, bringing her up to 12 on the afternoon and sending the sides into the break with the Illini ahead, 42-25.
McKenzie led Illinois’ offensive charge with 12 points and two made 3-pointers, with Bryant not far behind with 11 points while going 8-for-8 from the free throw line. All five Illini starters made a trey across the first 20 minutes of action in Madison.
Bostic became the third scorer to reach double figures with her first field goal of the second half, which came within the first 15 seconds of play. The Badgers responded with a 10-2 run to reduce their deficit to 11, though the Illini used a 5-0 run late in the frame to grow their lead up to 16. Wisconsin closed the third quarter on a 5-1 run, cutting the Orange and Blue’s advantage to 52-40 with 10 minutes to play.
Allowing only one field goal across the first four-and-a-half minutes of the fourth quarter, the Illini pieced together a 9-3 run to retake an 18-point edge. Shoup-Hill accounted for five of those points, including her second made 3-pointer of the afternoon. The Illini eventually extended their edge up to 26 late in the game, closing out the win ahead of their return to State Farm Center next week.
Illinois opens its two-game homestand on Thursday night against Penn State, with the opening tip between the sides set for 6 p.m. CT on B1G+.
HIGHLIGHTS
POSTGAME RADIO
POSTGAME NOTES
Player Notes:
Kendall Bostic scored 15 points to go along with 11 rebounds and three assists.
Bostic secured her 16th double-double of the season and the 50th of her career.
Ties her career-high mark for double-doubles in a single season.
16 double-doubles in a single season ranks tied for sixth on the program’s all-time list.
Still in second place in the record books, Bostic continued to move closer to Jenna Smith’s program record for career double-doubles.
Has 10+ rebounds in 18 games this season and in 72 appearances across her career.
Added to her lead atop the program’s career rebounding list:
1. Kendall Bostic (2021-pres.) – 1,263
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) – 1,327
4. Denise Jackson (Indiana, 1981-84) – 1,273
Now has at least six rebounds in all 24 games this season.
Scored in double figures for the 22nd time this season and for the 71st time in her career.
Has eclipsed the 10-point mark in 21 of her last 22 games.
Knocked down at least one 3-pointer for the seventh time this season.
Genesis Bryant scored 11 points and tallied five rebounds and seven assists.
Scored in double figures for the 18th time this season and for the 68th time in her career.
Has also done so in six-straight games.
Connected on one 3-pointer 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) – 183
Went 8-for-8 from the free throw line.
Has at least six makes from the charity stripe in three straight games.
Her eight makes are her second-most in a Big Ten game this season.
Dished out at least seven assists for the third time this season.
Jasmine Brown-Hagger scored nine points and grabbed four boards.
Has made at least one 3-pointer in five-straight games, extending a season-long streak.
Adalia McKenzie scored 18 points while also posting eight rebounds and six assists.
Scored in double figures for the 18th time this season and the 74th time in her career.
Matched a career high with two 3-pointers made…first game this season with multiple makes from beyond the arc.
Has knocked down at least one 3-pointer in five of her last six games.
Third game this season with at least eight rebounds.
Has dished out six assists twice in her last three games.
Brynn Shoup-Hill scored 11 points and secured six rebounds.
Scored in double figures for the fourth time this season and the 15th time in her career.
Berry Wallace came off the bench to score 10 points and grab two rebounds.
Poured in double-digit points for the seventh time this season.
Has at least seven points in 10-straight games.
Has 10+ points in five of the last six games and in six of the last eight.
Went 3-for-5 from beyond the arc.
Knocked down multiple 3-pointers for the third-straight game and the eight time overall this season.
Team Notes:
Wisconsin won the opening tip, though the Illini opened the scoring on a fast-break layup from Brown-Hagger.
The Illini had five double-figure scorers (Bostic, Bryant, McKenzie, Shoup-Hill, Wallace).
Illinois used an early 8-0 run to open up a 12-2 first-quarter lead.
The Illini defense held the Badgers without a field goal for a span of 5:17 in the first quarter.
Wisconsin shot 0-for-5 from the floor and was also forced into committing two turnovers.
Illinois forced Wisconsin into 15 turnovers on the day and scored 19 points off of them.
The Illini have forced double-digit turnovers in 23 of their 24 games this season.
The Illini went 11-for-21 (52.4%) from beyond the arc, the third time this season Illinois has shot 50% or better from deep.
Six different Illini knocked down a 3-pointer, matching a season high.
Last done on Feb. 2 at Maryland.
Illinois outrebounded Wisconsin 38-27, including an 11-6 edge on the offensive glass.
Tenth time this season the Illini have posted a +10 margin on the boards or better.
Converted the 11 offensive boards into seven second-chance points.
The Illini registered 20 assists on 26 field goals.
Illinois made a season-high 11 3-pointers, shooting 11-for-21 from deep.
Misc. Notes:
Starters: Genesis Bryant, Jasmine Brown-Hagger, Adalia McKenzie, Brynn Shoup-Hill, Kendall Bostic
This lineup is now 12-3 on the season.
Illinois has now won six games in a row for the first time since the team’s 11-game streak that spanned March 21, 2024 – Nov. 26, 2024.
Illinois has won six consecutive Big Ten games in the same season for the first time since the 1997-98 campaign.
The Illini have secured five consecutive Big Ten road wins for the first time since the 2012-13 season.
This is the second time in program history that this feat has been achieved.
Shauna Green is now:
60-30 at Illinois
28-21 in Big Ten play
187-80 as a Division I head coach
216-105 overall
Illinois vs. Wisconsin: 42-42 (84th meeting)
Shauna Green’s coaching record vs. Wisconsin: 3-1
Illinois is now 12-26 against Wisconsin when playing in Madison.
Illinois has won five of the last seven games against the Badgers.
Illinois is now 6-2 in true road games this season.
The Illini are 5-2 in Big Ten road games this season.
Illinois has now won five straight Big Ten road games for the first time since 2012-13.
The Illini have held opponents at/below 15 points in 57 of 96 regulation periods.
Illinois is now 7-2 when wearing blue uniforms this season.
The Illini are now 7-4 in games starting before 5 p.m. CT this season.
Illinois is now 4-3 in games played on Sundays this season.
The Illini are now 4-0 in February.
Illinois is now 9-2 during the 2025 calendar year.
