By IlliniGuys Staff

November 27, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

NASHVILLE, Tn. - It's rarely a good thing when your team hits more free throws than field goals in a game.

After turning that into a winning formula twice already this year, Illinois couldn't sink enough free throws to overcome their worst shooting night of the young season as the 19th ranked Illini fell to #14 Kentucky 76-53 Wednesday night at the Music City Classic.

Despite four scoreless droughts of two minutes or more in the first half, Illinois (6-1) battled the Wildcats to a 28-28 tie at halftime.

But the icy shooting continued in the third quarter, as it took more than four minutes after halftime for Kendall Bostic to score the Illini's first field goal of the quarter, only to see the team go through another four and a half minute drought later in the period as Illinois shot just 3-of-10 from the field in the quarter.

However, the Illini were still in the game. Adalia McKenzie's layup on the opening possession of the fourth quarter pulled Illinois to within 50-46. But they hit just one bucket over the next six minutes and fifteen seconds, a drought that ended when Makira Cook drained the Illini's lone three-point basket on the night to stop a 21-2 Kentucky run.

Illinois connected on just 1-of-16 three-point attempts and shot a season-worst 27 percent from the field overall (16-60).

"We literally couldn't buy a basket", said Illinois head coach Shauna Green in her postgame interview on WDWS. "Eleven missed layups at halftime. We can't have that kind of night against a team like Kentucky. To keep missing is deflating."

The Wildcats (7-0) took advantage of Illinois' struggles, hitting more field goals in the second half (22-of-42) than the Illini did the entire game. Kentucky's 47 percent shooting clip was the highest for an Illinois opponent this season.

While Green didn't make any excuses, Illinois played consecutive nights on tired legs with only six players seeing significant action against the Wildcats as top reserves Jasmine Brown-Hagger, Shay Bollin, and Berry Wallace all sat out again with injuries.

McKenzie led Illinois with 18 points, including making half of the Illini's 20 points scored at the free throw line as Illinois made just 16 field goals to 20 free throws.

It was the third time that's happened this young season. Illinois beat Marquette (16 field goals and 31 free throws made) and Maryland-Eastern Shore (22 and 24) previously.

Bostic delivered her fourth double-double this season with 10 points and 12 rebounds while Brynn Shoup-Hill pulled down 10 boards for her third double-digit rebound night of the season.

Kentucky sophomore Clara Strack continued her hot start for the Wildcats. The 6-foot-5 transfer from Virginia Tech recorded a career-high in scoring for the second night in a row, pouring in 25 points to go with 15 rebounds.

The loss denies Illinois just its second 7-0 start in program history and ends the nation's longest active winning streak at 11 games.

"We could have easily scheduled an easier team and get another win, but this is why we play these games, to get better", said Green.

The Illini return to action with their first true road game of the season at Canisius on Monday (5pm CST, ESPN+) in a homecoming game for Green. She's the Griffs' all-time leading scorer and remains second all-time in rebounding as one of the program's all-time greats, inducted into the Canisius College Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.