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LOS ANGELES – No. 25 Illinois battled with the Trojans but came up short in a 76-66 road loss to No. 4 USC on Sunday afternoon.
The Fighting Illini turned a double-digit deficit into a brief lead in the third quarter, but the home side pulled away in the second half to secure the win.
Genesis Bryant set the tone early with 10 first-quarter points, ultimately finishing the afternoon with a team-high 22 points while knocking down five 3-pointers. Going 5-for-10 from beyond the arc, Bryant also logged four rebounds and four assists in her 40 minutes of action
Playing all 40 minutes once again, Kendall Bostic turned in her 18th double-double of the season after recording 18 points and 16 rebounds, the latter of which equaled her season-best tally. She also dished out five assists and made two blocks.
Making her second-straight start, Berry Wallace scored in double figures for the 10th time this season, registering 14 points while logging a career-high 40 minutes. The true freshman also corralled two rebounds.Â
Despite dealing with some early foul trouble, Adalia McKenzie amassed seven points, five rebounds, four assists, and a steal. Brynn Shoup-Hill collected five points, six rebounds, and a career-high four steals.
No. 25 Illinois closes the regular season at State Farm Center next Sunday, when the Fighting Illini host Michigan for Senior Day. Tipoff is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network, while tickets are still available at FightingIllini.com.
HIGHLIGHTS
POSTGAME RADIO
POSTGAME NOTES
Player Notes:
Kendall Bostic posted a double-double with 18 points and 16 rebounds while dishing out five assists and making two blocks.
Secured her 18th double-double of the season and the 52nd such performance of her career.
Still in second place in the record books, Bostic moved to within one of Jenna Smith’s program record for career double-doubles.
Added to her lead atop the program’s career rebounding list:
1. Kendall Bostic (2021-pres.) – 1,309
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) – 1,373
4. Denise Jackson (Indiana, 1981-84) – 1,273
Moved into seventh place on the program’s single-season rebounding list.
Remained in eighth on the Illinois all-time career blocks list:
1. Alex Wittinger (2016-19) – 274
7. Chatrice White (2014-16 – 123
8. Kendall Bostic (2021-Pres.) – 120
Scored in double figures for the 25th time this season and for the 74th time in her career.
Reached that mark in the second quarter.
Has 10+ points in 12 of the last 13 games.
Posted 10+ rebounds for the 21st time this season.
Equaled her season-best output with 16 rebounds.
Her most in Big Ten play this season.
Now has at least six rebounds in all 28 games this season.
Four-straight 300-rebound seasons
Genesis Bryant led the Illini in scoring with 22 points while also amassing four rebounds and four assists.
Logged her team-leading ninth 20-point outing of the season and the 20th such performance of her career.
Scored in double figures for the 22nd time this season and for the 72nd time in her career.
Has also done so in 10-straight games.
Scored 11 points in the first quarter, going 3-for-5 from the field and 2-for-2 from 3-point range.Â
Connected on five 3-pointers to continue to move into 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) – 196
4. Krista Reinking (1994-98) – 194
Has made multiple 3-pointers in four-consecutive games and in eight of the last nine.
Went 5-for-10 from beyond the arc – a new season and Big Ten high for made 3-pointers.
Berry Wallace tallied 14 points along with two rebounds.
Scored in double figures for the 10th time this season.
Has 10+ points in three-straight games, six of the last seven, and in 8 of the last 10.
Made her second-consecutive start, the first two starts of her collegiate career.
Recorded a career-high 40 minutes, playing all 40 minutes for the first time in her career.
Brynn Shoup-Hill amassed five points, six rebounds, four steals, and an assist.
Secured a new career-best with four steals.
Had multiple steals for the third time this season.
Team Notes:
USC won the opening tip, and the Trojans opened the scoring with a jumper on their opening possession.
The Illini had three double-figure scorers (Bryant [22], Bostic [18], Wallace [14]).
Illinois held USC without a field goal for over eight-and-a-half minutes between the second and third quarters, using a 14-2 run during that time to turn an 11-point deficit into a one-point lead.
Forced the Trojans into 14-straight misses from the field.
Illinois came out of halftime and tied the game at 40-40, forcing a USC timeout with 7:41 left in the 3rd quarter.
Illinois forced USC into 10 turnovers and scored 14 points off of them.
The Illini have forced double-digit turnovers in 27 of their 28 games this season.
The Illini scored 14 second-chance points on 14 offensive rebounds.
Misc. Notes:
Starters: Genesis Bryant, Adalia McKenzie, Berry Wallace, Brynn Shoup-Hill, Kendall Bostic
This lineup is now 0-2 on the season.
This starting lineup was used against two top-5 teams on the road.
Shauna Green is now:
62-32 at Illinois
30-23 in Big Ten play
189-82 as a Division I head coach
218-107 overall
Illinois vs. USC: 0-1 (first meeting)
Shauna Green’s coaching record vs. USC: 0-1
Illinois is now 0-1 against USC when playing in Los Angeles.
The Illini have lost back-to-back games for just the second time this season.
Illinois moved to 6-4 away from home this season.
The Illini have held opponents at/below 15 points in 64 of 112 regulation periods.
Illinois is now 7-4 when wearing blue uniforms this season and 17-12 when doing so under Green.
The Illini are now 8-5 in games starting before 5 p.m. CT this season.
Illinois is now 5-4 in games played on Sundays this season.
The Illini are now 5-2 in February.
Illinois is now 10-4 during the 2025 calendar year.
Score after 1st Quarter: 22-26
Score at Halftime: 36-40 (14-14 Q2)
Score after 3rd Quarter: 47-57 (11-17 Q3)
Score after 4th Quarter: 66-76 (19-19 Q4)
