By IlliniGuys Staff

January 5, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

MINNEAPOLIS, Mn. - Genesis Bryant scored a game-high 20 points, but Illinois surrendered an 11-point lead in the second half as Minnesota rallied to post a 68-61 victory Sunday afternoon.

The Illini, seeking their second road win of the season and first in Big Ten play, fell behind 9-2 at the start but recovered to enter the locker room tied at 27.

Illinois (11-4, 1-3 in Big Ten Conference) then made its move in the 3rd quarter behind Bryant and Adalia McKenzie, who scored eight points each as the Illini built a 46-35 lead with 2:00 to go in the period.

But the Golden Gophers began to whittle away at that, going on a 17-9 run to close the gap to 55-52. Bryant hit a jumper to make it 57-52 with 4:23 remaining, but that would be Illinois' final field goal of the game. Minnesota outscoring the visitors 16-4 the rest of the way to close out the victory as the Illini missed their final ten field goal attempts.

Illinois, which played again without the injured Makira Cook and Gretchen Dolan, got 14 points from McKenzie and 10 from Jasmine Brown-Hagger. Kendall Bostic pulled down 15 rebounds, but was just 2-of-9 shooting to finish with 9 points and just miss her 10th double-double of the season.

Minnesota (15-1, 3-1) was led by Grace Grocholski with 19 points, 13 of those coming in the second half.

Illinois returns to action Thursday night when they host Iowa at State Farm Center (6pm CT, BTN-Plus).