(From Illinois Sports Information Office)

November 11, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- The shorthanded Illinois women's basketball team fell 71-67 to Marquette on Saturday from the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee, Wis.

The Fighting Illini (1-1) had three players score in double figures, led by Camille Hobby, who had 18 points, seven rebounds and two steals. Kendall Bostic tacked on 14 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals and Genesis Bryant who added 11 points, four assists and four steals.

Illinois made the most of excellent ball movement in Saturday's road game, piling up 17 assists on 27 made field goals. Bostic and Kam'Ren Rhodes each registered four helpers.  Rhodes getting extended play with the absence of senior guard Makira Cook, who has missed back to back games after leaving the exhibition contest against Truman State a little early with an injury.

Illinois forced 21 Marquette turnovers and turned those takeaways into 23 points on the other end of the floor. Bryant's four steals led the way for Illinois.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Illinois started off strong, putting together a 16-14 lead through 10 minutes of play. The Illini did most of their first quarter damage in the paint, scoring 12 of its 16 points close to the basket.

Marquette rallied to take a 33-22 lead before Illinois went on an 8-0 run starting at the 4:29 mark in the second period to narrow its deficit to 33-30. The Fighting Illini were unable to narrow the gap any further, but did not lose ground either and entered halftime with a 37-34 deficit as Hobby beat the buzzer with a jumper from the elbow to keep the deficit at three.

Marquette pushed ahead out of the break, building a 54-45 advantage before Illinois went on a 5-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Rhodes, to trim its deficit to 54-50 with 59 seconds to go in the third. Marquette countered and stretched its lead to 56-50 heading into the fourth.

Illinois narrowed its deficit in the fourth quarter pulling within one on multiple occasions, but could not get over the hump, falling 71-67. Illinois took advantage of five Marquette turnovers in the quarter, scoring seven points off of those takeaways.

GAME NOTES

Player Notes:

• Genesis Bryant registered 11 points, four assists, four steals, and two rebounds.
  • Bryant has scored double digits in both games this season and is up to 28 such performances across her career.
  • Bryant hit two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.
• Kendall Bostic finished with 14 points (6-of-7 FG) for her second double-digit scoring effort in as many games.
  • Bostic now owns 25 career double-digit scoring games.
  • She filled the statsheet with six rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
• Jada Peebles played a team-high 37 minutes while adding eight points, two assists, one block, and one rebound.
  • Peebles has now appeared in 111 career games, starting 64.
• Camille Hobby was the first sub off the bench for the Illini and finished with 18 points (3 off career high).
  • The fifth-year led Illinois on the glass as well, grabbing seven rebounds.
  • Hobby went 4-for-4 from the field in the fourth quarter and tallied nine points in the frame.

Team Notes:

• Illinois won the tip but Marquette struck first on its first trip to the basket.
• Three Illini finished in double-figure scoring including Camille Hobby (18), Kendall Bostic (14), and Genesis Bryant (11).
• Illinois' largest run of the contest was an 8-0 burst across a 2-minute span late in the second quarter.
• Illinois shot 51.9% from the field on 27-of-52 shooting.
• The Illini went 11-for-14 from the free-throw line - a mark of 78.6%
• Illinois registered 17 assists, recording an assist on 63 percent of made baskets.
• The trio of Kam'Ren Rhodes, Jada Peebles, and Genesis Bryant played every second of the fourth quarter.
• The Illinois defense forced 21 turnovers resulting in 23 points.
• Illinois dominated the paint, outscoring the Eagles 38-24.
• The Illinois bench scored 24 points to Marquette's three.
• Seven of the nine Illini that saw playing time scored at least four points in the contest.

Misc. Notes:

• Starters: Jada Peebles, Genesis Bryant, Adalia McKenzie, Brynn Shoup-Hill and Kendall Bostic. This lineup is now 1-1 on the season.
• Shauna Green is now:
  • 23-11 at Illinois
  • 150-61 as a Division I coach
  • 179-86 overall
• Illinois vs. Marquette record: 2-6 (8th meeting)
  • Shauna Green vs. Marquette: 0-2
• Illinois is now 0-1 when wearing blue uniforms.
• The Illini are now 0-1 in games before 5 p.m.
• The Illini are now 1-1 in November.