CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois remained perfect at State Farm Center this season with a 70-52 victory over Bradley on Thursday night.
Now 6-0 at home during the 2024-25 campaign, the Fighting Illini had three scorers finish in double figures as the Orange and Blue posted their 10th home victory in a row.
Adalia McKenzie scored a season-high 23 points, including 15 points in the second half. McKenzie also totaled six rebounds, three steals, and one assist.
Kendall Bostic secured her sixth double-double of the season and also surpassed the 20-point mark, recording 22 points and 10 rebounds while going 10-for-14 from the field. Bostic added three assists and one block.
Genesis Bryant amassed 15 points, four assists, three rebounds, and a season-most three steals.
Bradley took an early five-point edge before Bostic grabbed an offensive rebound and made the second-chance layup for the Orange and Blue’s first points of the night. A 6-0 Illini run, which featured points from three different scorers, gave the hosts their first lead of the contest. After the Braves went back in front, five consecutive points from Bostic saw the hosts retake the lead, and the Illini eventually held a 20-17 advantage through the opening 10 minutes.
Bostic scored the team’s first four points of the second quarter, which moved her into double figures. Bostic’s back-to-back buckets sparked an 8-2 run and gave the home side a 28-21 edge within the first three minutes of the frame. The Braves cut their deficit to three, but the Illini scored the final four points of the second period and took a 34-27 lead into the break.
All 34 of Illinois’ first-half points came from the team’s starters, with Bostic leading the way with a game-high 13 points through the first two quarters.
The Orange and Blue pushed their advantage to nine within the first 60 seconds of the second half, but an 8-0 run from the Braves over the next two minutes cut the visitors’ deficit to 36-35 with 7:28 left in the third quarter.
With the game tied at 42 with four minutes left in the frame, the Illini closed the quarter with an 11-2 run. McKenzie scored the first four points during that stretch before Bostic tallied the next five, which also included her first 3-pointer of the season. That four-minute span sent the Illini into the final period with a 53-44 advantage.
Another 11-2 run early in the fourth quarter, which featured the Illini holding the Braves without a field goal for almost six-and-a-half minutes, gave Illinois its first double-digit lead of the night. Leading by as many as 18, the Orange and Blue closed out the victory to move to 6-0 at home this season.
Illinois returns to State Farm Center on Sunday afternoon to take on Southern Indiana. The Fighting Illini and the Screaming Eagles will square off at 1 p.m. CT on B1G+, with tickets still available at FightingIllini.com.
HIGHLIGHTS
PRESS CONFERENCE
POSTGAME NOTES
Player Notes:
Genesis Bryant scored 15 points to go along with three rebounds and four assists.
Jasmine Brown-Hagger scored two points and had two assists.
Brynn Shoup-Hill scored four points and secured four boards to go along with two assists. Adalia McKenzie scored a season-high 23 points and grabbed six rebounds.
Kendall Bostic scored 22 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and had three assists.
Berry Wallace came off the bench to score two points.
Irene Noya Catoira made her Illinois debut, entering the contest with one minute remaining in the fourth quarter.
Team Notes:
The Illini won the opening tip, though Bradley opened the scoring on its second possession of the contest.
Misc. Notes:
Starters: Genesis Bryant, Jasmine Brown-Hagger, Adalia McKenzie, Brynn Shoup-Hill, Kendall Bostic
Shauna Green is now:
Illinois has won 10 consecutive games at State Farm Center, which is tied for the third-longest such streak in program history.
The Illini improved to 30-8 at State Farm Center under head coach Shauna Green.
Illinois vs. Bradley: 12-4 (16th meeting)
The Illini have held opponents at/below 15 points in 24 of 40 regulation periods.
Illinois is now 6-1 when wearing white uniforms this season.
The Illini are now 6-1 in games starting after 5 p.m. CT this season.
Illinois is now 3-0 in games played on Thursdays this season.
The Illini are now 2-1 in December.
Score after 1st Quarter: 20-17
Score at Halftime: 34-27 (14-10 Q2)
Score after 3rd Quarter: 53-44 (19-17 Q3)
Score after 4th Quarter: 70-52 (17-8 Q4)
