By IlliniGuys Staff

December 12, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illini head coach Shauna Green's team continues to hit marks rarely touched in program history.

Adalia McKenzie scored 15 of her team-high 23 points in the second half as Illinois returned home from its first road trip to post a 70-52 victory over Bradley.

It's the Illini's 10th straight home win, which ties the third longest streak in program history and is their most successful run this century.

Illinois (8-2) relied on Kendall Bostic's 13 first half points as it rallied from an early 14-11 deficit, scoring all but one basket in a 13-5 stretch that gave the Illini a 24-19 lead in the second quarter.

But the Braves challenged Illinois' vaunted three-point defense in the third quarter to erase a 34-27 halftime deficit.  The Illini rank third in three-point defense in allowing just 20.5 percent, but Bradley hit a trio of treys to open the second half as part of a 15-8 run to tie the game at 42-42.

That's when Illinois turned to the slashing McKenzie. The senior keyed an Illini 22-6 run, scoring 11 points to put the home team on top 64-48 with 3;29 remaining in the game. Bradley managed just two field goals the rest of the way.

Bostic finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season and the 40th of her career. Genesis Bryant added 15 points.

Soleil Barnes was the lone double-digit scorer for Bradley with 12 points.

The last time Illinois won 10 home games in a row was from December, 1997 to January, 1999 when they won a program-record 18 straight under head coach Theresa Grentz. Green becomes the fastest Illinois women's coach to reach 30 home wins, getting it done in only 38 games to beat the record of 39 games held by Grentz and Jane Schroeder.

Illinois returns to action Sunday when they host Southern Indiana (1pm CST, BTN Plus).