By IlliniGuys Staff
December 29, 2022
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
MADISON, Wisc. - Adalia McKenzie scored a career-high 26 points as the red-hot Illinois women's basketball picked up where they left off before Christmas break with a convincing 79-63 win at Wisconsin Thursday night.
The victory is the fifth in a row for Illinois (12-2, 2-1) and gives first-year head coach Shauna Green her first Big Ten road win as coach of the Illini.
The game marked the first action for leading scorer Makira Cook, who hadn't played since the win at Butler on December 11th due to illness. But Cook put her stamp on the game early with an assist on a Genesis Bryant three-pointer and then hitting a jumper for an early 11-4 Illini lead.
The Badgers put together their best effort with a 9-0 run to close within 30-29 in the second quarter, but Illinois answered with a 6-0 run of its own.
McKenzie continues to flourish in coach Green's offense, logging a season-high 36 minutes while recording her fifth game of 20 points or more, all since Thanksgiving. The sophomore hit 14-of-15 free throws in the game, including 5-of-6 as part of a 10-point fourth quarter to help keep Wisconsin (4-10, 0-3) at bay.
Cook finished with 23 points, her second highest total of the season. Bryant added 14 points for her third straight double-digit scoring effort. Kendall Bostic grabbed nine rebounds, including the 500th of her career.
Illinois is now over .500 in conference play for the first time since 2017 and will now put their perfect 7-0 home record on the line as they host 12th ranked Iowa on New Year's Day at State Farm Center (2pm,BTN).
July 26 Weekend - Hour 2 - S3 Ep 50
ListenJuly 26 Weekend - Hour 1 - S3 Ep 50
ListenB1G Football Media Days Takeaways, B1G Athletes in the 2024 Olympics & Deadpool & Wolverine Opens - Heat Checks & Hail Marys July 25
ListenBrad Sturdy & Kedric Prince Talk Illini Basketball Roster, Recruiting & Expectations #381
ListenKevin Mitchell Rose Bowl Co-Captain and Busey Bank Illini Radio Network Broadcaster #380
ListenDerek Harper Illini Legend & NBA Broadcaster #379
ListenJuly 19 Weekend - Hour 2 - S3 Ep 49
ListenJuly 19 Weekend - Hour 1 - S3 Ep 49
ListenMarcus Griffin Illini Legend #378
ListenIllini Roster NBA Potential, Positional Size & Boxing's Love of Undefeated
ListenB1G Football, Illini Basketball Recruiting & John Cena Retires & Make-A-Wish Record
ListenJuly 12 Weekend - Hour 1 - S3 Ep48
ListenJuly 12 Weekend - Hour 2 - S3 Ep48
ListenCJ Moore & Mike Farrell - National Eyes on Illini Basketball & Football #377
ListenEddie Johnson Illini Legend & NBA Broadcaster #376
Listen