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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois used a big fourth quarter to take down Penn State, 67-55, at State Farm Center on Thursday night.
Now 20-5 overall and 10-4 in Big Ten play this season, the Fighting Illini outscored the Nittany Lions in the final frame, 24-7, en route to their seventh win in a row.
Playing all 40 minutes, Adalia McKenzie recorded a team-high 19 points after posting 11 points in the second half. McKenzie ultimately ended the evening with eight rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
Genesis Bryant finished in double figures for the seventh game in a row, logging 18 points while going 4-for-9 from 3-point range. She also amassed six assists, three rebounds, and two steals.
Jasmine Brown-Hagger added 10 points, going 2-for-2 from the field and 2-for-2 from the free throw line in the second half. She also grabbed a steal.
Kendall Bostic accumulated 12 points, eight rebounds, two blocks, an assist, and a steal while playing all 40 minutes.
McKenzie and Bryant combined for six points within the first three minutes of play, which helped the Illini establish an early four-point edge. After Illinois extended its lead to seven points, Penn State closed the quarter on a 10-1 run and took a 20-18 advantage through one period of play.
A 5-0 run to start the second frame put the Orange and Blue back in front. With seven lead changes throughout the second quarter, the Illini eventually went into the break with a 35-32 edge. Bryant led Illinois with 10 first-half points, while Bostic and McKenzie each tallied eight points across the opening 20 minutes.
Brown-Hagger accounted for the Illini’s first five points of the second half, which moved the home side’s advantage up to five points. Penn State closed the frame on an 11-1 run, which gave the visitors a five-point edge heading into the final period of play.
The Illini pieced together an 11-2 run over the first four minutes of the fourth quarter, which turned a five-point deficit into a four-point advantage with 4:43 remaining. Bostic pushed that lead up to six less than two minutes later, forcing the Nittany Lions to take a timeout.
After Penn State cut its deficit in half, Illinois answered by scoring the game’s next 11 points to lengthen the hosts’ edge up to double digits with less than one minute left on the clock.
Leading by as many as 14 and holding Penn State to only one field goal across the final six-and-a-half minutes of the contest, the Illini ultimately sealed the win from the free throw line for their 20th victory of the season and their 10th triumph in conference play.
Illinois will host its annual Play4Kay pink game against Nebraska on Sunday, with the opening tipoff slated for 4 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network. Tickets for the Illini’s penultimate regular-season home game against the Cornhuskers are available at FightingIllini.com.
HIGHLIGHTS
PRESS CONFERENCE
POSTGAME NOTES
Player Notes:
Kendall Bostic scored 12 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and added one assist.
Added to her lead atop the program’s career rebounding list:
1. Kendall Bostic (2021-pres.) – 1,271
2. Jenna Smith (2006-10) – 1,217
Remained in third place on the Big Ten all-time career rebounding list (of players that 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) – 1,335
4. Denise Jackson (Indiana, 1981-84) – 1,273
Moved up to eighth on the Illinois all-time career blocks list after recording two against Penn State:
1. Alex Wittinger (2016-19) – 274
7. Chatrice White (2014-16) – 123
8. Kendall Bostic (2021-Pres.) – 115
9. Angelina Williams (2001-05) – 112
Now has at least six rebounds in all 25 games this season.
Scored in double figures for the 23rd time this season and for the 72nd time in her career.
Has eclipsed the 10-point mark in 22 of her last 23 games.
Genesis Bryant scored 18 points on 4-for-9 shooting from behind the arc, dished out a team-high six assists, and collected three rebounds.
Scored in double figures for the 19th time this season and for the 69th time in her career.
Has also done so in seven-straight games.
Connected on four 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) – 187
Adalia McKenzie paced the Illini scoring attack with 19 points on 7-for-16 shooting from the field, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out two assists.
Scored in double figures for the 19th time this season and the 75th time in her career.
Jasmine Brown-Hagger scored 10 points, shooting 2-for-4 from deep, and added two assists.Â
Had multiple makes from 3-point range for the third time this season and for the first time in Big Ten play.
Has made a 3-pointer in six-consecutive games.
Team Notes:
Penn State won the opening tip, though Illinois would force a turnover and open the scoring on two free throws from Brynn Shoup-Hill.
The Illini had four double-figure scorers (Adalia McKenzie [19], Genesis Bryant [18], Kendall Bostic [12], Jasmine Brown-Hagger [10]).
Illinois forced Penn State into 12 turnovers and scored 14 points off of them.
The Illini have forced double-digit turnovers in 24 of their 25 games this season.
The Illini’s seven points allowed across the final 10 minutes are their second-fewest allowed in a fourth quarter this season.
Illinois’ seven points allowed in the fourth quarter are their fewest allowed in any quarter during Big Ten play this season.
Illinois’ four turnovers are their fewest in a game this season.
The Illini’s four turnovers are their fewest in a game since at least 2013-14.
The Illini recorded a season-high five blocks as a team.
Illinois scored 12 fast-break points while holding Penn State scoreless on the fast break.
The Illini have allowed zero fast-break points in back-to-back contests and in five games this season.
The Illini assisted 13 times on 23 made field goals.
Misc. Notes:
Starters: Genesis Bryant, Jasmine Brown-Hagger, Adalia McKenzie, Brynn Shoup-Hill, Kendall Bostic
This lineup is now 13-3 on the season.
Illinois has now won seven 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 seven consecutive Big Ten games in the same season for the first time since the 1997-98 campaign.
Improving to 20-5, the Illini have registered the ninth 20-win season in program history.
Shauna Green is the first Illini head coach since Hall-of-Famer Theresa Grentz to lead her teams to two 20-win seasons within her first three years with the program.
The Illini needed only 25 games to reach the 20-win mark, tied for the fewest number of games in program history (1996-97).
Moving to 10-4 in Big Ten play, Illinois posted its eighth season with double-digit conference victories.
Shauna Green is the first Illini head coach since Hall-of-Famer Theresa Grentz to lead her teams to two seasons with 10+ Big Ten wins within her first three years with the program.
The Illini needed only 14 games to reach 10 Big Ten wins, marking the third-fewest games to achieve that feat.Â
Shauna Green is now:
61-30 at Illinois
29-21 in Big Ten play
188-80 as a Division I head coach
217-105 overall
With the Illini’s win over Penn State, Shauna Green moved into a tie for fifth place on the program’s head-coaching wins list, joining Matt Bollant with 61 victories at the helm of the Fighting Illini.
Illinois vs. Penn State: 19-39 (58th meeting)
Shauna Green’s coaching record vs. Penn State: 3-0
Illinois is now 12-12 against Penn State when playing in Champaign.
The Illini won their third consecutive game against Penn State for the first time since 1997-98.
Illinois has secured back-to-back home victories against the Nittany Lions for the first time since the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons.
Illinois moved to 13-2 at State Farm Center this season.
The Illini’s 13 home wins are their most in a single season since recording 16 such victories during the 1999-2000 campaign.
With 3,983 fans in the stands on Thursday, Illinois’ attendance at State Farm Center this season moves to 71,667 through 14 games.
That mark ranks third in program history with two more home games still on the schedule.
The Illini have held opponents at/below 15 points in 59 of 100 regulation periods.
Illinois is now 13-3 when wearing white uniforms this season.
The Illini are now 13-1 in games starting after 5 p.m. CT this season.
Illinois is now 9-0 in games played on Thursdays this season.
The Illini are now 4-0 in February.
Illinois is now 9-2 during the 2025 calendar year.
Score after 1st Quarter: 18-20
Score at Halftime: 35-32 (17-12 Q2)
Score after 3rd Quarter: 43-48 (8-16 Q3)
Score after 4th Quarter: 67-55 (24-7 Q4)
