Illini Women Lock Up Villanova to Win Inaugural WBIT, 71-57

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.

Podcasts

Illini Crush Western Michigan - #502

Listen

IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular - $100 Million Donation, Illini Football Update & Canelo vs Crawford S5Ep5 - 9.12.25

Listen

Illinois Football Preview - Western Michigan - #501

Listen

Illini Destroy Duke 45-19 #500

Listen

Illini FB at Duke & Arch Panic - S5Ep4 - 9.5.25

Listen

Illini Football Preview versus Duke - #499

Listen

Illini Destroy Leathernecks 52-3 - #498

Listen

Illini FB is Here, So Is Petrovic & Illini in NFL - S5Ep3 - 8.29.25

Listen

I on the Illini - Western Illinois Preview #497

Listen

Illini FB & BB Updates & Phil Steele on the 2025 Illini FB Season - S5Ep2 - 8.22.25

Listen

1st Show of 5th Season, Illini FB Ranked #12 - S5Ep1 - 8.15.25

Listen

The Top 5 Illini Basketball Coaches in IlliniGuy Memory - #496

Listen

Greg Glass – NIL Primer & Can Fanstake.com Help Attract & Retain Athletic Talent - #495

Listen

Interviews with Bret Bielema, Cam Crocker & Matt Stevens - S4Ep52 - 8.8.25

Listen

Illini FB Coach Bret Bielema Chats with Mike & Rob Louthain Talks NIL & Illini Media - #494

Listen