By IlliniGuys Staff

December 31, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Genesis Bryant tied her career high with 32 points, but Illinois couldn't match a hot-shooting Washington team as they fell to the Huskies 84-75 Tuesday afternoon.

The loss snaps the Illini's 13-game home win streak, which began back in February and was the second longest in program history.

Injuries to key players have marred the Illinois season.

6-foot-7 Baylor transfer Lety Vasconcelos suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason.

Reserve forward Shay Bollin has been sidelined all season.

Freshman and former McDonald's All-American Berry Wallace missed a month of action following the season-opening win against Florida State.

All-Big Ten point guard Makira Cook has been limited to just eight games and now hasn't played in three weeks.

Sophomore Gretchen Dolan returned from a month's absence with a knee injury to score 13 points in Saturday's win over Oregon, but was out again today as Illinois reserves provided just two points with only Wallace and Cori Allen seeing significant minutes off the bench.

Bryant did what she could to make up the difference. She scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, including eight in a row as the Illini rallied from a nine-point deficit to pull within 74-72 with 5:38 remaining in the game. But Illinois (11-3, 1-2) scored just one field goal the rest of the way as the Huskies pulled away.

Kendall Bostic scored 17 points and Adalia McKenzie added 13 before fouling out.

Savyia Sellers led Washington (11-4, 2-1)  with 24 points as the Huskies shot 55 percent from the field (34-of-62) and from three-point range (11-of-20)., both season bests by any Illinois opponent this season.

Illinois returns to action Sunday when they visit Minnesota (2pm CT, BTN Plus).