For the first time in program history, Illinois women’s basketball has defeated Maryland after 17 straight defeats with a 66-65 win in College Park.

February 2, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

For the first time in program history, the University of Illinois women’s basketball team has defeated Maryland.

After 17 consecutive defeats, Illinois pulled off a 66-65 win in College Park on Sunday afternoon to earn its first road win over a ranked opponent under third-year head coach Shauna Green. The victory marked the fifth such triumph in the Green era after she had guided the Illini to ranked wins over No. 12 Iowa (Jan. 1, 2023) during the 2022-23 slate, a win over No. 14 Indiana (Feb. 19, 2024) during the team's 2023-24 schedule and wins over No. 19 Florida St. (83-74 in Nov. 7, 2024) and No. 23 Iowa (62-57 on Jan. 9, 2025). However, all four of those wins came in front of the home crowd at State Farm Center.

The last road win over a ranked team for the Illini program came over six years ago when Illinois knocked off No. 12 Minnesota 66-62 on Jan. 6, 2019.

Genesis Bryant, who hit the game-winning free throws with six seconds remaining, led the Illini (17-5, 7-4 in Big Ten) with 20 points and 14 of those came in the second half. Illinois freshman Berry Wallace had 14 points off the bench as the former McDonald’s All-America nominee hit four three-pointers.

In a game where, No. 14 Maryland led for 27 minutes and seven seconds, Illinois outscored the Terrapins in the final three quarters of play following a 18-11 deficit.

Despite battling foul trouble throughout the contest, Adalia McKenzie finished with nine first-half points and seven assists in 26 minutes.
Kendall Bostic, who just set the Illinois all-time rebounding record in her last game, finished with her fifth straight double-double effort with 13 points and 14 rebounds while playing every second of the game.

Before today, Maryland was 87-2 over the last 4 seasons when leading with five minutes to play but Illinois got clutch three-point shots from Bostic and Brynn Shoup-Hill on back-to-back possessions to turn the momentum back in the favor of the visitors.

Since joining the league in 2014, Maryland is now 81-12 against Big Ten opponents at home. Maryland head coach Brenda Frese, whose first season in College Park was the inaugural season of XFINITY Center, is now 322-50 at home. The only two teams to defeat Maryland at home this season are now Illinois and No. 4 Southern California.

Maryland was led by guard Kaylene Smikle’s 15 points but Illinois held All-America forward Shyanne Sellers to just 14 points on 14 field goal attempts.

Illinois is now on a four-game winning streak and will next play Northwestern, which is winless in Big Ten play this season, on Thursday night (6 p.m. CST, Big Ten Network-Plus).