CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois extended its winning streak to five games with a 73-60 win over Northwestern on Thursday night at State Farm Center.
Leading by double digits for nearly 30 minutes of play, the Fighting Illini secured its sixth-straight win over the Wildcats while improving to 18-5 overall and 8-4 in Big Ten play this season.
Genesis Bryant paced the Illini in scoring with 20 points, her third-consecutive game with 20+ points. Going 3-for-5 from 3-point range, Bryant also finished with five rebounds, four assists, and a steal.
Kendall Bostic posted 15 points, her eighth-straight outing with at least 10 points. Equaling her career-high with six assists, Bostic also grabbed nine rebounds and made a season-best three blocks.
Berry Wallace poured in 14 points off the bench, 10 of which came in the first half. Scoring in double figures for the sixth time, she amassed three rebounds and two assists.
Jasmine Brown-Hagger registered nine points, while Adalia McKenzie logged seven points and three assists.
With the sides knotted at 2-2 through the opening two-and-a-half minutes, the Illini used a 4-0 run to take a four-point edge. After the Wildcats cut their deficit to one, the Orange and Blue pieced together a 12-2 run over the next three minutes to establish a double-digit edge, 18-7.
Less than a minute later, Bryant knocked down a deep three as the shot clock expired, giving the hosts a 12-point lead, their largest of the opening quarter. The sides ultimately went into the second quarter with the Illini ahead, 25-13.
An 11-4 Illinois run to start the second period moved the home side's advantage up to 19 just over halfway through the frame. Back-to-back buckets from Bostic helped maintain that margin, and a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Wallace to close the half sent the Illini into halftime with a 45-25 advantage.
Illinois maintained its double-digit advantage through the third quarter, though the Wildcats cut their deficit to 12 with just under three minutes remaining in the period. A late 7-2 run from the Orange and Blue extended their edge back up to 17, and the sides went into the final frame with the Illini in front, 60-45.
A 5-0 run early in the fourth quarter pushed the home side's advantage up to 18 within the first four minutes. After leading by as many as 21 in the contest, the Illini closed out the victory from the free throw line.
Illinois heads north for a road contest at Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon before returning to State Farm Center for two home games next week. The opening tip between the Fighting Illini and the Badgers at the Kohl Center is slated for 3 p.m. CT on B1G+.
Leading by double digits for nearly 30 minutes of play, the Fighting Illini secured its sixth-straight win over the Wildcats while improving to 18-5 overall and 8-4 in Big Ten play this season.
Genesis Bryant paced the Illini in scoring with 20 points, her third-consecutive game with 20+ points. Going 3-for-5 from 3-point range, Bryant also finished with five rebounds, four assists, and a steal.
Kendall Bostic posted 15 points, her eighth-straight outing with at least 10 points. Equaling her career-high with six assists, Bostic also grabbed nine rebounds and made a season-best three blocks.
Berry Wallace poured in 14 points off the bench, 10 of which came in the first half. Scoring in double figures for the sixth time, she amassed three rebounds and two assists.
Jasmine Brown-Hagger registered nine points, while Adalia McKenzie logged seven points and three assists.
With the sides knotted at 2-2 through the opening two-and-a-half minutes, the Illini used a 4-0 run to take a four-point edge. After the Wildcats cut their deficit to one, the Orange and Blue pieced together a 12-2 run over the next three minutes to establish a double-digit edge, 18-7.
Less than a minute later, Bryant knocked down a deep three as the shot clock expired, giving the hosts a 12-point lead, their largest of the opening quarter. The sides ultimately went into the second quarter with the Illini ahead, 25-13.
An 11-4 Illinois run to start the second period moved the home side's advantage up to 19 just over halfway through the frame. Back-to-back buckets from Bostic helped maintain that margin, and a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Wallace to close the half sent the Illini into halftime with a 45-25 advantage.
Illinois maintained its double-digit advantage through the third quarter, though the Wildcats cut their deficit to 12 with just under three minutes remaining in the period. A late 7-2 run from the Orange and Blue extended their edge back up to 17, and the sides went into the final frame with the Illini in front, 60-45.
A 5-0 run early in the fourth quarter pushed the home side's advantage up to 18 within the first four minutes. After leading by as many as 21 in the contest, the Illini closed out the victory from the free throw line.
Illinois heads north for a road contest at Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon before returning to State Farm Center for two home games next week. The opening tip between the Fighting Illini and the Badgers at the Kohl Center is slated for 3 p.m. CT on B1G+.
