By IlliniGuys Staff
April 3, 2024
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Makira Cook scored 27 points to lead Illinois past Villanova 71-57 to win the WBIT championship.
Cook was named Most Valuable Player for her performance. The senior guard scored 22 of her points after halftime to lift the Illini from a 32-29 deficit at intermission. Cook also hit five of six from the three-point arc.
The championship clinches an historic run for Illinois (19-15), which wins five consecutive postseason games for the first time to clinch the first postseason tournament title in program history.
Genesis Bryant scored 17 points and Kendall Bostic, who went over the 1,000-point mark for her career in the first half, finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds.
Illinois outscored the Wildcats 42-25 in the second half and held their Big East foe to just 32 percent shooting for the game.
Stay with IlliniGuys.com for complete postgame coverage from Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
582 - Illini Assistant Coach Geoff Alexander
Listen
581 Illini Legend Eddie Johnson Talks Illini Final Four
Listen
580 Illini Getting Ready for Final Four
Listen
579 Illini are Final Four Bound
Listen
578 Illini vs Iowa Preview
Listen
3.27.26 - Illini 2nd EE in 3 Years & IlliniGal CeCe Parchment
Listen
576 - Illini Earn 2nd Elite 8 Appearance in 3 Years
Listen
575 Sweet 16 - Illini Bust Up VCU 76-55
Listen
3.20.26 March Madness and Matt Brown on NIL
Listen
574 Mirk & the Illini Roll Over Penn 105-70
Listen
573 The 2026 NCAA Tournament Show
Listen
572 Illini Lose Big Lead vs Badgers
Listen
3.13.26 Wagler All-B1G & All-American & Sturdy Fires Up Underwood
Listen
571 Illini "Smash" the Terps
Listen
3.6.26 Illini Hoops Update & March Madness Begins
Listen