21st Ranked Illini Open Big Ten Play at #12 Ohio State

(From Illinois Sports Information Office)

Date | Time Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 | 3 p.m. CT
Location Columbus, Ohio | Value City Arena in the Schottenstein Center
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Illinois Starters Last Game
Pos. No. Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG APG SPG BPG Season Note
G 1 Genesis Bryant 5-6 5th 10.1 2.6 2.4 1.0 0.0 Became the 34th player in program history to score 1,000 career points
G 3 Makira Cook 5-6 5th 12.7 1.9 3.7 1.1 0.1 33 career games with 20+ points
G 24 Adalia McKenzie 5-10 Sr. 12.9 5.4 2.9 0.8 0.1 Posted her first double-double of the season at Canisius on Dec. 2
F 23 Brynn Shoup-Hill 6-3 Sr. 6.9 8.1 0.6 0.4 1.1 Has multiple blocks in four games this season
F 44 Kendall Bostic 6-2 5th 16.0 10.1 1.3 0.4 0.6 4th player in program history to record 1,000 career points & 1,000 career rebounds

 

Head Coach Shauna Green

Career Record: 204-101 (.669), 11th season
Division I Record: 175-76 (.697), Ninth season
At Illinois: 48-26 (.649), Third season
Big Ten Record: 19-17 (.528), Third season

 

OPENING TIP

The 51st campaign of Illinois women's basketball continues with No. 21 Illinois heading to Columbus, Ohio, to begin Big Ten play on the road against No. 12 Ohio State. The No. 21-ranked Fighting Illini will visit the Buckeyes Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network. Mike Koon will call the action for the Illini on the Busey Bank Illini Sports Network (1400 AM / 93.9 FM). Streaming, audio, and stats links are also available at FightingIllini.com/wbb.

  • Illinois has earned a win over a ranked opponent for the third consecutive season under Green.
  • The Fighting Illini have now been ranked in the Top 25 in all three seasons under Green with the highest ranking (#19) coming in the Nov. 25 poll.
  • Illinois returned four 1,000-career point scorers, tied for the most in the NCAA with Baylor, Notre Dame, and Kansas State. All four have now scored 1,000 points as Illini as well.
  • Illinois' seniors (Cook, Bryant, McKenzie, Shoup-Hill, Bostic) have a combined 388 career starts (362 at Illinois) and played a combined 530 games (402 at Illinois).
  • Illinois has led for a total of 274:55 this season through eight games, while trailing for 31:45.
  • As of Dec. 2, Illinois has scored a larger percentage of its points (23.4%) from the free-throw line than any other major conference team in the NCAA.
  • Illinois' 3-point percentage defense ranks 4th in the NCAA at 19.6% (35-of-179) as of Dec. 6.
  • Kendall Bostic's 1,139 career rebounds rank 3rd of all active NCAA D1 players.
  • Illinois faces a ranked team in its Big Ten opener for the 3rd straight season. (#12/7 Ohio State, --/25 Michigan, #5/4 Indiana).
  • The Illini have held opponents at/below 15 points in 23 of 32 regulation periods.
  • Illinois started the season 6-0 for the second time under head coach Shauna Green.
  • Seven different Illini scorers have posted double-digit points in a game this season: Bostic, Bryant, Brown-Hagger, Cook, Dolan, McKenzie, Shoup-Hill.
  • The Fighting Illini return eight players from last year's WBIT Championship team while adding six newcomers - four freshmen and two transfers - into the mix.

ABOUT NO. 12 OHIO STATE

No. 12 Ohio State has opened the 2024-25 season with seven consecutive wins en route to a 7-0 record, including a 3-0 mark at home. The ranked Buckeyes have picked up wins over Cleveland State, Charlotte, Belmont, Ohio, Bowling Green, Old Dominion, and Utah State.

The No. 21 Fighting Illini will be the Buckeyes' first ranked opponent and first Power-4 foe of the season.

ALL-TIME SERIES INFORMATION

Illinois and Ohio State will meet for the 79th time on Sunday, with the Buckeyes holding a 58-20 advantage in the all-time series. OSU has won the last 12 games in the series, while the Buckeyes have won the last seven games played in Columbus.

Sunday's game marks the first ranked matchup between the sides since No. 11 OSU defeated No. 19 UI, 68-64, in Champaign on 2/1/1987.

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