By IlliniGuys Staff

January 9, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Kendall Bostic scored 17 points and grabbed 14 rebounds and the Illinois defense forced 18 turnovers to score the 62-57 upset of 23rd ranked Iowa Thursday night at State Farm Center.

The Illini fell behind 29-20 in the second quarter when they locked up the Hawkeyes and held them scoreless for the final 4:09 of the half. Illinois (12-4, 2-3 in Big Ten Conference) closed out the half on a 7-0 run with baskets by Bostic and Jasmine Brown-Hagger and a three-pointer by Genesis Bryant to go into the locker room down 29-27.

Adalia McKenzie opened the second half scoring with a three-pointer to give Illinois a 30-29 lead and the Illini never trailed again.

Bostic played all 40 minutes as she picked up her 10th double-double of the season. The victory comes as Illinois was playing its first game since the announcement on Wednesday that three-year starter and All-Big Ten guard Makira Cook and key sophomore reserve Gretchen Dolan would both miss the rest of the season due to injuries.

The Illini have never had all 15 players available this season as the defending WBIT champions have been plagued by injuries since the preseason. But they post their second win over a Top 25 team and their first since defeating 19th ranked Florida State 82-73 in the season opener on November 7th.

Bryant and McKenzie finished with 12 points each and Brown-Hagger added 10 for Illinois, which scored 16 points off turnovers to assist in the upset.

Hannah Stuelke led Iowa (12-4, 2-3) with 18 points. The Hawkeyes' leading scorer Lucy Olsen, who scored 22 points for Villanova in the WBIT championship game loss to Illinois on April 3rd, added 16 points.

Illinois returns to action next Thursday when they travel east to face Indiana (6pm CT, Peacock).

Stay with IlliniGuys.com for complete postgame coverage.