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.
1st Show of 5th Season, Illini FB Ranked #12 - S5Ep1 - 8.15.25
ListenThe Top 5 Illini Basketball Coaches in IlliniGuy Memory - #496
ListenGreg Glass – NIL Primer & Can Fanstake.com Help Attract & Retain Athletic Talent - #495
ListenInterviews with Bret Bielema, Cam Crocker & Matt Stevens - S4Ep52 - 8.8.25
ListenIllini FB Coach Bret Bielema Chats with Mike & Rob Louthain Talks NIL & Illini Media - #494
ListenIlliniGuys Top 5 Fighting Illini Cs in our Lifetime - #493
ListenKed's Recruiting Roundup with Davon Grant
ListenIllini Football & Basketball, Hogan & Sandberg Pass & Cearah Parchment & Matt Stevens - S4Ep51 - 8.1.25
ListenOpinions from the Outside Looking In at Illini Football #492
ListenIlliniGuys Top Fighting Illini PFs in our Lifetime, 4-Star 2027 QB Commit & Fantastic Four: First Steps Movie Review - #491
ListenB1G Media Days, Illini Hoops & More - S4Ep50 - 7.25.25
ListenIlliniGuys Top Fighting Illini SFs in our Lifetime - #490
ListenHeat Checks & Hail Marys – Luke Altmyer Poised to Soar Up All-Time Illini QB Rankings & Kofi Part II
ListenNBA Summer League, Illini Recruiting Update, SEC Media Days & More - S4Ep49 - 7.18.25
ListenI on the Illini - Fighting Illini Top 5 SGs & Superman Movie Review #489
Listen