By IlliniGuys Staff

January 16, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - It appears that Shauna Green's Illinois basketball team isn't going to let some devastating injuries stand in the way of their goals.

Kendall Bostic scored 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds as a weel-rested Illini squad surprised Indiana 68-54 on their home court Thursday night.

It snapped a nine-game slide at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall that dated back to 2012 and the 14-point winning margin marks their biggest in Big Ten play this season.

Like their male counterparts did on this same court 48 hours earlier, Illinois (13-4, 3-3) jumped out to a 21-7 lead as Bostic and Adalia McKenzie combined for 16 points in the first seven minutes of the game. The Illini shot 65 percent in the first quarter against a Hoosiers team that entered the night having won eight of their last nine games.

Illinois led 35-22 at halftime, but Indiana hit eight straight shots to pull within 49-41 in the third quarter. They managed to trim the Illini lead to 49-45 early in the fourth quarter, but the visitors responded by hitting their final six shots in the game to pull away and preserve the victory, shooting 64 percent in the fourth quarter.

McKenzie finished with 15 points, Berry Wallace had 13, and Genesis Bryant added 12 while handling point guard duties. She dished out a game-high seven assists as Illinois recorded 18 assists to just six turnovers.

The win lifts the Illini to 2-0 since news that three-year starter and All-Big Ten performer Makira Cook and sharp-shooting sophomore reserve Gretchen Dolan were lost for the season due to injuries. Illinois responded a day later with an upset win over #23 Iowa last Thursday before heading east to pick up this crucial road win.

Indiana (12-5, 4-2) had three players with 13 points each.

Illinois returns home to host Michigan State on Girl Scouts Day this Sunday at State Farm Center (2pm CT, BTN Plus).