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PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Illinois battled its way to a hard-fought 69-65 overtime win on the road against Rutgers on Thursday night.
Four scorers finished in double figures for the Orange and Blue, who are now 16-5 overall and 6-4 in Big Ten play this season. The Illini overcame an 11-point deficit in the game, which is tied for the second-largest comeback Illinois has mounted under head coach Shauna Green.
Playing all 45 minutes, Genesis Bryant poured in 14 points in the fourth quarter and finished with a game-high 28 points, her second-best scoring output this season. Making three big free throws in overtime, Bryant also rattled in a season-high five 3-pointers while collecting six rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
One game after setting the program’s new career rebounding record, Kendall Bostic secured her fourth-straight double-double with 10 points and 11 boards. She also dished out a season-most five assists.
Adalia McKenzie came up clutch in overtime, tallying four points and making the game-saving block in the extra period. McKenzie closed the night with 11 points, five assists, three rebounds, a block, and a steal.
Brynn Shoup-Hill logged all 10 of her points across the final two quarters of regulation and overtime, while she also posted nine rebounds, an assist, a block, and a steal.
Berry Wallace added seven points, five rebounds, and two assists off the bench.
The Scarlet Knights opened the game with a 7-2 run, but Illini responded with an identical 7-2 stretch of their own to tie the contest at 9-9 just prior to the halfway point of the first quarter. Rutgers used a streak of five consecutive makes from the field to retake the lead, but Illinois closed the frame with a 6-0 run to cut its deficit to 20-15 heading into the second period.
The Orange and Blue carried their momentum into the start of the second quarter, piecing together a 14-2 run to take their first lead of the night. Nine points from Bryant and a 3-point play from Wallace fueled that stretch, which gave the visitors a 29-22 edge four-and-a-half minutes into the frame.
The hosts ultimately scored the final four points of the first half, and the sides went into the break with the Illini narrowly in front, 34-32. Bryant’s 11 points were a team-best mark, while Bostic and McKenzie were not far behind with eight and seven points, respectively.
Rutgers went ahead by five early in the second half, though a 6-0 Illinois run allowed the visitors to retake the lead, 42-41, with just over three minutes remaining in the frame. The Scarlet Knights ended the third quarter by accounting for the final eight points, giving the hosts a 49-42 lead with 10 minutes left in the contest.
Bryant cut into the Illini’s deficit with two 3-pointers within the first three minutes of the final frame, reducing Rutgers’ advantage to 51-48. Those two treys jumpstarted an 11-3 run, with Shoup-Hill’s triple capping off that stretch and putting Illinois back in front with 5:54 remaining.
After the Scarlet Knights re-established a slight tadvantage with a 3-pointer, Bryant connected on her third trey of the quarter and fifth of the night to send the Illini ahead once again, 58-57, with 3:18 to go. Rutgers retook the lead from the free throw line, but Illinois had an answer once again, with Bryant driving into the lane and getting her floater to drop with just under two minutes left.
The Scarlet Knights got their shot to fall on their next possession, and after Illinois split a pair of free throws, the sides were locked at 61 with 23 seconds to go. With Rutgers looking for the win, Bryant drew a charge with 4.4 seconds left, giving Illinois an opportunity to take the last shot, which ultimately came up short and saw the game head to overtime.Â
Rutgers opened the scoring in overtime, but Illinois tallied the next seven points to take a 68-63 edge with three minutes left in the overtime period. The home side cut their deficit down to three with one minute to play, and with Rutgers looking to tie, McKenzie blocked a 3-point attempt before the Illini sealed the victory from the free throw line.
Winners of five of its last six, Illinois will close its two-game road trip against No. 14 Maryland on Sunday afternoon. The Fighting Illini will take on the Terrapins at the XFINITY Center at 12 p.m. CT on B1G+.
HIGHLIGHTS
POSTGAME NOTES
Player Notes:
Kendall Bostic registered 10 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists while playing a career-high 44 minutes.
Bostic secured her 14th double-double of the season and the 48th of her career.Â
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 16 games this season and in 70 appearances across her career.
Added to her lead atop the program’s career rebounding list:
1. Kendall Bostic (2021-pres.) – 1,229
2. Jenna Smith (2006-10) – 1,217
Remained in third place on the Big Ten all-time career rebounding list, Bostic 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) – 1,293
4. Denise Jackson (Indiana, 1981-84) – 1,273
Now has at least six rebounds in all 21 games this season.
Scored in double figures for the 19th time this season and for the 68th time in her career.
Has eclipsed the 10-point mark in 18 of her last 19 games.
Dished out a season-most five assists.
Had multiple assists for the ninth time this season.
Recorded a career-high 44 minutes of action.
Brynn Shoup-Hill tallied 10 points, nine rebounds, an assist, a block, and a steal.
Scored in double figures for the third time this season and for the 14th time in her career.
Has 10+ points in two of the last three games.
Has 9+ rebounds in seven games this season.
Four of her nine rebounds came on the offensive glass.
Has three games with at least four offensive boards.
Played a career-high 43 minutes.
Appeared in her 100th career game, 77 of which have come as an Illini.
Genesis Bryant poured in a game-high 28 points in addition to logging six rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
Scored in double figures for the 15th time this season and for the 65th time in her career.
Posted a team-high 11 points in the first half.
Totaled 14 points in the fourth quarter, more than Rutgers’ entire team in the frame.
Connected on a season-high five 3-pointers to continue to climb the Illinois career makes list.Â
Her 177 3-pointers rank fourth on Illinois’ all-time list.
Set her season-best tally for 3-pointers made.
Played all 45 minutes in the win, a new career-high in that category.
Was the only player to register all 45 minutes in the game.
Has at least six rebounds in four games this season.
Adalia McKenzie collected 11 points, five assists, three rebounds, a block, and a steal.
Scored in double figures for the 17th time this season and for the 73rd time in her career.
Has 10+ points in 11 of the last 12 games.
Dished out five assists.
Equaled her season-best total.
Has five assists in two of the last three games and in three appearances overall this season.
Berry Wallace added seven points, five rebounds, and two assists off the bench.
Has at least seven points in seven-straight games.
Has grabbed at least five rebounds in two of her last three appearances.
Has 5+ rebounds in three games this season.
Played a career-high 36 minutes.
Team Notes:
Rutgers won the opening tip, and the Scarlet Knights opened the scoring with a 3-pointer on their second possession of the night.
Illinois pieced together a 20-2 run from 1:35 remaining in the first quarter until 4:56 left in the second quarter to take a 26-22 lead.
The Illini went 8-for-10 from the field and 2-for-2 from the free throw line during that stretch.
That run turned an 11-point deficit into a seven-point advantage.
11-0 run during the second quarter to build a 29-22 lead.Â
Illinois went on an 11-3 run across the first 4:06 of the fourth quarter tto turn a seven-point deficit into a one-point lead.
Bryant made two 3-pointers during that stretch.
The Illini held the Scarlet Knights to one field goal over the first 4:37 of the fourth quarter.
Went 4-for-6 from the field and 3-for-3 from 3-point range during that time.
The Illini had four double-figure scorers (Bostic, Bryant, McKenzie, Shoup-Hill).
Illinois forced Rutgers into 10 turnovers on the night and scored 12 points off of them.
The Illini have forced double-digit turnovers in all 21 games this season.
Illinois went 8-for-23 from 3-point range in the victory while holding Rutgers to just three makes from deep (3-for-14).
Illinois has made eight 3-pointers in back-to-back games and has connected on 8+ in five games total this season.
Misc. Notes:
Starters: Genesis Bryant, Jasmine Brown-Hagger, Adalia McKenzie, Brynn Shoup-Hill, Kendall Bostic
This lineup is now 9-3 on the season.
Shauna Green is now:
57-30 at Illinois
25-21 in Big Ten play
184-80 as a Division I head coach
213-105 overall
Illinois has now won 11 Big Ten road games under Shauna Green, a mark that owns sole possession of third place all-time among Fighting Illini women’s basketball coaches.
The Illini came back from an 11-point deficit in the game, which is tied for the second-largest deficit Illinois has overcome under head coach Shauna Green.
Illinois has overcome an 11-point deficit three times under Coach Green, and a 12-point deficit once.Â
Three of those four comebacks have been against Big Ten teams.
Illinois vs. Rutgers: 6-9 (15th meeting)
Shauna Green’s coaching record vs. Rutgers: 5-0
Illinois is now 2-5 against Rutgers when playing in Piscataway.
Illinois is now 4-2 in true road games this season.
The Illini have held opponents at/below 15 points in 48 of 84 regulation periods.
Illinois is now 1-1 in games that go to overtime under Shauna Green.
Illinois is now 5-2 when wearing blue uniforms this season.
The Illini are now 11-1 in games starting after 5 p.m. CT this season.
Illinois is now 7-0 in games played on Thursdays this season.
The Illini are now 5-2 in January.
Illinois is now 5-2 during the 2025 calendar year.
Score after 1st Quarter: 15-20
Score at Halftime: 34-32 (19-12 Q2)
Score after 3rd Quarter: 42-49 (8-17 Q3)
Score after 4th Quarter: 61-61 (19-12 Q4)
Score after OT 1: 69-65 (8-4 OT1)
