By IlliniGuys Staff

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Illini women's basketball team is headed to the NCAA tournament for the second time in three years.

Illinois drew the 8-seed in Regional 3 during tonight's selection show and will play 9th seeded Creighton in Austin, Texas on Saturday.

It's the third postseason tournament in as many seasons at Illinois for head coach Shauna Green. The Illini lost to Mississippi State in their NCAA opener in 2023 before winning the inaugural Women's Basketball Invitational Tournament last spring.

Illinois finished the season at 21-9 and tied for fifth place in the Big Ten with an 11-7 record. They won a program-record eight straight conference games, despite a slew of injuries that has left Green with just a six-player rotation. All-Big Ten point guard Makira Cook, sophomore guard Gretchen Dolan, transfer center Lety Vasconcelos, and forward Shay Bollin were all lost for the season at some point and 5-star freshman recruit Berry Wallace and sophomore transfer guard Jasmine Brown-Hagger also missed time due to injuries.

Illinois lost its last four games, including its Big Ten opener against Nebraska on March 6th.

But the Illini have a trio of 1,000-point scorers on the court with All-Big Ten First Teamer Kendall Bostic, Genesis Bryant, and Adalia McKenzie. The group has been instrumental in resurrecting a program that hadn't reached the NCAA tournament since 2003.

Creighton finished at 26-6, losing in the final of the Big East tournament to 3rd ranked UConn 70-50 Monday night.

Stay with IlliniGuys.com for more NCAA tournament coverage.