THE BASICS
The Coaches
Illinois: Matt Bollant // 51-64 at Illinois (4th year) // 333-119 overall (14th year)
Northwestern: Joe McKeown // 111-111 at NWU (8th year) // 620-285 overall (30th year)
SERIES NOTES vs. NORTHWESTERN
Series Record: Northwestern leads 37-34
Last Meeting: Northwestern 64, Illinois 58 // Feb. 8, 2015 // Evanston, Ill.
Series Streak: Lost 2
Series in Champaign: Illinois leads 18-16
Series in Evanston: Northwestern leads 18-13
Bollant vs. Northestern: 2-3
Illinois is...
...averaging 17.3 points off opponent turnovers this season
...hosting Dads & Daughters Date Night on Thursday
...ranked 2nd in the Big Ten for its 7.7 treys per game
...seeing three starters average double-digit scoring in B1G play
...assisting on more than 53-percent of field goals
...forcing 16.4 turnovers per game, 5th in the B1G
...averaging 7.3 steals per game
...grabbing almost 12 offensive rebounds per game
Quick Hits
• THURSDAY'S Game: The Illini will stay at home this week, hosting Northwestern at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 4. The game will mark Dads & Daughters Date Night, featuring a ticket deal: $20 for two tickets, two concessions vouchers and two Fighting Illini packs. The Illini sophomores will sign autographs following the game.
• LAST TIME OUT: The Fighting Illini gave the No. 7-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes a run for their money on Monday, knocking down a season-high 12 three-pointers to take an early lead in the game. Sophomore Brooke Kissinger knocked down five of those treys for a career-best 15 points, while Chatrice White led the Orange and Blue with 26 points. It wasn't enough, however, to hold off the Buckeyes as the Illini fell 80-70 on the night. Illinois is now 8-13 on the season and 1-9 in Big Ten play. Ohio State improves to 9-1 in conference games.
• SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN: The Wildcats are riding a five-game losing streak into Thursday's game. Northwestern is 2-8 in league play with wins coming over Ohio State and Nebraska. Junior Nia Coffey leads the team as she's averaging a double-double on the season (20 ppg, 10.4 rpg). Northwestern has four players averaging double-figure scoring numbers this season, and two players grabbing double-digit rebounds.
• COMING UP: Illinois will head to Ann Arbor, Mich. for a 1 p.m. CT matchup with the Wolverines on Feb. 7. Illinois returns to the State Farm Center on Feb. 10 for a rematch against Indiana at 7 p.m.
CHATRICE WHITE - @ThatWHITEgirl32
White has increased her season rebounding average by three rebounds this season, improving from 7.0 rpg last year to 9.9 this season. She has 13 double-doubles on the year, eighth on Illinois' all-time single season list.
ALEX WITTINGER
Wittinger is on a scoring streak over the past five games, she has put up double-digits in each of the last five games after doing so only once in her first five #B1G games. That includes a career-best 27 points in her home state of Minnesota on Jan. 26 and back-to-back double-doubles in the last two games.
ALEXIS VILIUNAS- @Lex_Viliunas
Four-year letterwinner with the #Illini volleyball program who joined @IlliniWBB prior to the Penn State game on Jan. 23.
KYLEY SIMMONS- @Kyley Simmons
Simmons is averaging just over one turnover in each of her last five games, showing improvement from last season. She tallied 39 TOs in 18 #B1G games in the 2014-15 season, and has recorded just nine through 10 league games this year. She has also dished 23 assists in the last five #B1G games after recording just five in the first five league games.
CIERRA RICE- @cecebigballer
Earned #B1G Freshman of the Week honors twice to start off the season before suffering a knee injury against South Dakota on Dec. 22.
ASHLEY MCCONNELL- @ashmccons
Recorded her best performance of the season against UT Martin, grabbing three rebounds and putting up six points.
SIMONE LAW- @SimoneLaw4
Transferred from Loyola but will not see action for the #Illini due to injury. Brother, Victor Law, plays for Northwestern.
BROOKE KISSINGER- @bkiss_hoops22
Kissinger has made at least one 3FG in each of her last five games, her best stretch of the season. She's made 14 threes in her last five games after making just three total in her first five Big Ten games. Her five treys vs. #7 Ohio State mark a career-best.
JAELYNE KIRKATRICK- @Jaelynee
The Illini freshman played for team Canada in the FIBA U-19 World games this summer. For the Illini she saw a rise in playing time come conference season, averaging more than 17 minutes per game and earning the start against Maryland.
SARAH HARTWELL- @Hearty_6
Leads the team with 34 assists in #B1G play and also hands out assists off the court as she stays active in the community through service events.
ERIEL DAVIS- @ErielDavis13
Started her career with the #Illini as a scout team player before earning a spot in the team in her sophomore year. Earned her first appearance this season vs. Maryland.
KENNEDY CATTENHEAD
Her 85 points in #B1G play more than triple her scoring output from 22 games last season (24 pts) and rank third on the team. She's scored in double-figures in four league games compared to just twice in non-conference play.
LAST TIME VS. NORTHWESTERN
Illinois made a furious second-half rally, erasing a 15-point deficit to tie the game with 3:14 left, but couldn't pull it out as Northwestern made 6-of-8 free throws in the final minute to grab a 64-58 win at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Sunday. Kyley Simmons led the Illini with 17 points on 5-of-8 three-point shooting. The Illini (12-12 overall, 3-9 in the Big Ten) shot 45.5 percent in the first half but cooled off in the second half, making just 11-of-37 (29.7) from the floor for a 35.6 percentage (21-of-59) for the game. UI made 9-of-27 (33.3 percent) from three-point range and 7-of-8 from the line. Northwestern (17-6, 7-5) made 14-of-20 free throws (70 percent), making up for its 28.9 percent (6-of-21) three-point shooting and just 36.7 percent (22-of-60) from the field.
A NEW ADDITION
The Illini will see a new face on the bench for the rest of the season as Illini Volleyball standout, Alexis Viliunas, will join the women's basketball team for the remainder of the year. Viliunas is a four-year letterwinner with the volleyball squad and has experience playing basketball from her high school days. Her NCAA eligibility will be exhausted at the end of the season.
REWRITING THE RECORD BOOKS
After setting the Illinois Freshman Record with 60 blocked shots last season, sophomore Chatrice White continues to move up in the record books. She's racked up 105 rejections so far in her career, becoming one of just seven Illini to reach 100 blocks in school history. Currently, her 105 blocked shots ranks seventh overall in program history. The record is currently set at 271 career blocks by Karisma Penn, who played for the Illini from 2009-2013.
White has also racked up 811 career points in just 52 games played in her career so far. White needs to average 21 points per game over the next nine games to join the 1,000 point club. Only 27 Illini have reached 1,000 career-points in Illinois history. Should White reach the milestone in fewer than 66 career games, she will become one of the fastest players in school history to reach that mark.
Fastest Illini to Reach 1,000 Points
Ashley Berggren (1994-98) - 56 games
Lisa Robinson (1978-92) - 61 games
Susan Blauser (1998-00) - 64 games
Kendra Gantt (1981-85) - 65 games
Jenna Smith (2006-10) - 66 games
Allison Curtin (1998-01) - 66 games
Jonelle Polk (1983-87) - 70 games
KISSINGER COMING UP
Sophomore Brooke Kissinger has been coming through in the clutch for the Illini in the past few games. She is averaging 6.6 points per game this season, but has put up an average of 11.4 points in each of the last five games. She's hit her previous career-best of 12 points in back-to-back games and improved that number to 15 against Ohio State. She has knocked down 14 three-pointers in that span. She's 14-for-25 from three-point range, good for 56-percent shooting in the past five games games after making just three triples in Illinois' first four Big Ten games combined. She's also shooting 50-percent from the field over the past three games.
A BANG IN THE BIG TEN
Not only does Kyley Simmons rank among the top of the nation for her three-point shooting, brank among the top of the nation for her three-point shooting, but she's at the top of the Big Ten. Simmons is sixth in the Big Ten with her three-point field goals per game (2.7), fifth for her three-pointers made (56) and her three-point field goal percentage (40.6) ranks ninth. Her 35.7 minutes played per game ranks eighth in the league while her 1.7 steals per game sit 12th overall.
Chatrice White is among the top in the Big Ten in several categories as well. She ranks second in the league for her 7.3 defensive rebounds per game this season and seventh for her 2.6 offensive rebounds per game. Her 2.1 rejections per game ranks third while her 9.9 rebounds per game sit second also.
Alex Wittinger sits second in the Big Ten for her 3.5 offensive rebounds per game, and her 1.7 blocks per game sits fifth. She's shooting 51.8-percent from the field, good for 12th in the league.
As a team, Illinois is among the top of the league in several categories. The Illini rank sixth in the conference for their 4.4 blocked shots per game and second for their 7.7 treys per game. Illinois' +2.8 turnover margin ranks fourth and 7.3 steals per game are ninth.
BALANCE IS BEST
Sharing is caring, as the Illini have noticed this season. The Orange and Blue have seen at least three players put up eight or more points in all but one game this season. Multiple players have reached double-figure scoring numbers in all but one game this year as well. The Illini are 4-2 when four or more players score in double-figures.
Not only do they take turns with the scoring, but the Illini are assisting on more than 54-percent of field goals this season. Illinois has recorded 296 assists on 556 field goals with Kyley Simmons leading the way (74). Seven Illini have dished more than 19 dimes this year.
GO THE DISTANCE
The Illini have found success from beyond the arc to start the season, as they currently rank 38th in the country and second in the Big Ten in three-point field goals per game (7.7). Illinois has netted at least eight triples in 11 games this season, including 10 or more triples in six games this season. The Illini have knocked down 162 threes this season, the second-most in the Big Ten and 23rd in the nation.
Redshirt senior Kyley Simmons certainly leads the charge from distance this season as she has knocked down four or more treys in seven games this year. She has made at least one trey in 18 games, and her 56 treys ranks 28th in the country.
Brooke Kissinger has made major contributions in the three-point department for the Illini as well. She has knocked down 33 threes this season, shooting 42-percent from distance. Sophomore Chatrice White (21) and senior Sarah Hartwell (15) have contributed in the three-point department as well.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE TROUBLE
Sophomore Chatrice White has started the season with 13 double-doubles so far this year, which means she has cracked the top-10 on Illinos' single season double-doubles list. She is tied with JOnelle Polk for eighth on the list, and the record is set at 21 in a year by Jenna Smith (2009-10). White has 19 double-doubles so far in her career, and with just one more she will break into the top-10 all-time career double-doubles list as well. That record is also held by Jenna Smith, who finished her career with 53 total double-doubles.
BLOCK PARTY
As a team, the Illini have tallied 92 rejections on the season, averaging 4.4 per game. Illinois averaged almost four blocks a game last season, led by Chatrice White's freshman record 60 blocks. White is once again leading the charge as she is on track to surpass that number with 45 blocks through 21 games. If she keeps up this pace, White could place herself atop the Illinois Season Blocks list currently led by Karisma Penn who rejected 78 shots in the 2010-11 season. White's 60 blocks last season ranks sixth all-time at Illinois, and she is currently in seventh overall with 105 career blocks. She is certainly holding up her end of the bargain as she swiped seven blocks against South Dakota, matching her career-best and the State Farm Center record set by Karisma Penn. White's 2.2 blocks per game this season rank third in the Big Ten.
White has some help this season as freshman Alex Wittinger is also racking up the rejections. Wittinger has 36 total so far this season, including a season-best, six, against Lehigh. Wittinger's 1.7 blocks per game rank fifth in the Big Ten.
WHITE'S WAYS
Sophomore Chatrice White has been making waves this season, starting the year off with back-to-back double-doubles. She didn't stop there, however, as she has put up 20 or more points in five games so far this season. White currently has 11 career 20+ point games and 18 career double-doubles, including one in 10 of the last 14 games.
• She recorded five consecutive double-doubles this season, which has not been done since Karisma Penn earned six-straight double-doubles in the 2010-11 season.
• The last Illini to start the season with consecutive double-doubles was Karisma Penn in the 2012-13 season (11 pts., 12 rbs. vs. Evansville; 29 pts., 16 rbs. vs. Bradley). Penn also recorded a double-double in three of the first four games of the year.
• Prior to Penn, Jenna Smith started the 2009-10 season out with four-straight double-doubles, and continued on to record a double-double in six of the first seven games.
• White currently leads the Big Ten and sits 7th in the nation for her 12 double-doubles this season. White is No. 19 in the country for her seven defensive rebounds per game as well.
• White's 17.3 points per game rank 11th in the Big Ten this season and her 2.1 blocks per game rank third. She is also second in the league for her 9.9 boards per game.
• White has been the team's leading scorer and rebounder in eight games this season, and she has led the team in one of the two categories in all but one of Illinois' 21 games this year.
• White is almost averaging a double-double in Big Ten play as she grabs 9.9 rebounds and 16.5 points per game in league play.
TURNOVER TIME
Averaging fewer than 14 turnovers a game, the Illini have been able to force 16.7 turnovers from their opponents on average this season. In conference games, Illinois is averaging just 12.3 turnovers per game, while continuing to force 14.2 opponent turnovers each contest. Illinois has forced 20 or more turnovers in five games this season, and Illini opponents have committed 17 or more in 10 games. Illinois has only led in the turnover category in seven games this year. The Orange and Blue have also been taking advantage of those turnovers, averaging 17.3 points off turnovers each game. Illinois has recorded more points off turnovers than its opponents in 17 games this year.
HARDWORKING HEARTY
Redshirt senior Sarah Hartwell is making waves for the Illini this season as she has made herself a staple in the Orange and Blue starting lineup. Hartwell played in just 14 games last season, averaging less than one point per game. This year, she has put up 135 points, averaging 6.4 per game, while grabbing more than four rebounds per game. She has dished 62 assists, the second-most on the team only to point guard Kyley Simmons. Hartwell's 26 steals are third on the team to Simmons and Chatrice White.
Hatwell is not just a hardworker on the court, but she spends her time well off the court also. She was recently nominated for the Allstate Good Works Team for her community service efforts. The communication major spends countless hours volunteering in the Champaign-Urbana community. She is a member of Illinois' Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and is the leader of the group's Hometown Heroes subcommittee that plans service events throughout the year.
ILLINI RECEIVE GIFT FROM COURTSIDERS
The Courtsiders organzation, the official support group of Illinois women's basketball, will presentedceremonial check for $73,000 to the Illini prior to Illinois game vs. Penn State. The funding will be used to update the team's locker room facilities at Ubben, purchase new video equipment and an Omegawave Technology system. The Coutsiders organization raises funds through memberships, an annual golf outing and other activities. To learn more, email courtsiders@gmail.com.
TOP OF THE LINE
Illinois' hot start has paid off as the Illini are ranked among the nation's best in several categories this season.
Category National Rank B1G rank
Assist Turnover Ratio - 1.03 54th 8th
Blocked Shots – 92 71st 7th
3FG Made per game – 7.7 28th 2nd
3FG Made - 162 23rd 2nd
3FG Attempts - 495 26th 2nd
Turnover Margin -2.76 64th 4th
Fewest Turnovers – 287 39th 3rd
Turnovers per game -13.7 27th 3rd
Assist Turnover Ratio - Simmons - 1.90 69th 9th
3FG Made - Kyley Simmons – 56 28th 5th
3FG Per Game - Kyley Simmons - 2.67 39th 6th
3FG Percentage - Kyley Simmons - 40.6 45th 6th
Rebounds per game - C. White - 9.9 31st 2nd
Rebounds - C. White – 208 24th 2nd
Double Doubles - Chatrice White –13 7th 1st
Blocked Shots - Chatrice White – 45 42nd 3rd
Alex Wittinger - 36 80th 6th
Blocks per game - C. White - 2.14 43rd 3rd
Defensive Rebs. per game - C. White- 7.0 19th 2nd
FG Attempts - C. White – 386 12th 2nd
FG Made - C. White –144 48th 9th
Minutes per game - K. Simmons -35:76 54th 9th
A CHANGE OF PACE
After starting the same five players for the first 10 games of the season, head coach Matt Bollant switched things up against George Washington. Both Jaelyne Kirkpatrick and Alex Wittinger earned the start for the first time in their careers. The Illini again made again made a change against Purdue as Kennedy Cattenhead rejoined the lineup for that contest. Brooke Kissinger made her first career start at Nebraska. The Illini have started four different lineups so far this season.
OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION
Illinois started the season with a bang, outscoring opponents by more than 20 points in victories this year. In its eight wins, the Illini are holding opponents to just 33.7-percent shooting and 28-percent from distance. The Orange and Blue are shooting 44.5-percent from the field in victories, outrebounding opponents by three boards a game. The Illini force almost 17 turnovers per game in wins, only committing 12 of their own.
NON-CONFERENCE NUMBERS
The Orange and Blue finished the non-conference slate with a 7-4 record, starting the season with five consecutive wins. The Illini averaged almost 75 points per game, and limited opponents to just 30-percent shooting from beyond the arc. Illinois forced more than 18 turnovers per game from its opponents and aslo assisted on more than 53-percent of shots during non-conference play.
TOP 10 WINNINGEST
Now in his 14th season of head coaching, Matt Bollant came into the year with a .754 winning percentage. That number puts him 10th among all active head coaches in the country. Not only that, but Bollant has a 100-percent graduation rate during his 19 years of head coaching.
RECORDS FALL
Redshirt senior Kyley Simmons knocked down seven three-pointers, helping to lead Illinois over Lehigh on Dec. 6. She shot 70-percent from distance in the game, and her seven treys matched the State Farm Center single-game record set by Amber Moore in 2011. Simmons is currently shooting 48.5-percent from distance, good for first in the Big Ten and 15th in the nation.
DEFENSE IS KEY
Illinois' defense has largely contributed to its hot start to the year. UI has held three opponents to less than 32-percent shooting from the field, including holding Tennessee State to just 21.7-percent. Four Illini opponents have shot 25-percent or worse from distance as well this season. The Illini held Wisconsin to just 36.8-percent shooting this season, the lowest for a Big Ten opponent this year. The Illini have held two league opponents to less than 40-percent shooting so far as the Lady Lions shot 39.2-percent inside the State Farm Center.
DOUBLING UP
Six Illini reached double-figure scoring numbers in two games this season. The Illini first spread the production out against Tennessee State, seeing career-bests from Kennedy Cattenhead and Brooke Kissinger as well. The Illini again spread out the scoring against SIU on Dec. 8, seeing six players hit double-digits once again. Prior to Tennessee State, Illinois last saw six or more players reach double-figure scoring numbers was on Nov. 17, 2013 against Alcorn State. Seven players put up double-digits in that 112-28 victory.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK TIMES FOUR
Cierra Rice and Alex Wittinger have both earned Big Ten weekly honors twice this season, the most for an Illini freshman since Karisma Penn received the honor four times in the 2009-10 season. Rice first garnered the award on Monday, Nov. 23, coming off of a 20-point performance against UT Martin and helping the Illini to a 94-74 win. Rice went 6-for-6 from the field against UT Martin, banking three triples on the day. She had a 6-for-7 performance from the charity stripe as well. The Grosse Pointe, Mich., native scored 21 points, dished five assists and grabbed five rebounds in the game, only tallying one turnover. She then earned her second nod on Dec. 7, after putting up 22 points against Miami and following up with a 12-point performance in Illinois' win over Lehigh.
Alex Wittinger joins Rice in earing the weekly honor as she was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Dec. 13 after back-to-back double-digit scoring games against SIU and Central Michigan and her second-career double-double against CMU. She earned her second nod after putting up a career-best 27 points and 15 rebounds at Minnesota on Jan. 26.
It is the first time since the award was developed in 2009-10 that Illinois has had two players receive Freshman of the Week honors.
THE ROARING TWENTIES
Illinois saw three players score at least 20 points against UT Martin as freshmen Cierra Rice and Alex Wittinger each put up double-figure scoring numbers for the first time in their careers. Wittinger (20), Rice (21) and Chatrice White (26) combined for 67 of Illinois' 94 points in the game. The last time three Illini scored 20 or more points was UI's 95-69 win over Minnesota on Feb. 5, 2015. Wittinger also grabbed 11 rebounds in the contest, marking her first-ever double-double.
Cierra Rice continued to rack up the points, dropping 22 at Miami on Dec. 2. Rice is one of just three freshmen in Illinois history, dating back to 1980, to put up 20 or more points twice within the first five games of her career. Also on that list is sophomore Chatrice White, who scored 20 or more points in six games last season. Krista Reinking (1994-95) rounds out the total list. Reinking has four 20+ points games in her freshman season.
BOLLANT'S 50TH
Head coach Matt Bollant earned his 50th victory at Illinois in a 74-69 defeat of Central Michigan. Bollant is currently 332-107 in his career. He has taken his teams to 12 postseason appearances in his head coaching career, including four NCAA Tournament appearances and a Sweet 16 appearance in 2011. The Illini earned a 7-1 start to the season, the best during Bollant's tenure at the helm of Illinois Women's Basketball.
THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
With only two starters returning this season, the Illini have a few new faxsces in the starting lineups. Redshirt senior Kyley Simmons and sophomore Chatrice White are returning for a second year, but they were originally joined by first-time starters Sarah Hartwell, Kennedy Cattenhead and Cierra Rice. The Orange and Blue switched things up against George Washington, with freshmen Jaelyne Kirkpatrick and Alex Wittinger earning the start as well. Three of the five starting Illini are underclassmen, while three of the five are also first-time starters.
ILLINI CRUISE PAST GREYHOUNDS IN EXHIBITION
Fighting Illini Women's Basketball started its season on a high note Saturday afternoon, tallying a 95-36 exhibition win over the University of Indianapolis at Parkland College. The Orange and Blue saw all nine players on the floor put up at least three points in the game, and the Illini assisted on 20 of 35 field goals in the contest. Illinois out rebounded the Greyhounds 38-26 and held UIndy to just under 23-percent shooting in the game. The Illini dropped 13 three-pointers in the contest, while shooting over 54-percent from the floor.
WHITE RETURNS FOR SUPER SOPHOMORE SEASON
Returning for her sophomore season, Chatrice White, expects no sophomore slump. She closed out the 2014-15 season averaging 14.5 points per game and a team-leading 7.0 rebounds per contest. She owns the Illinois freshman records for scoring and blocked shots as she led the team with 60 rejections.
ILLINI LOOKING FOR NEW CONTRIBUTORS
The Illini will have a few holes to fill in the absence of recent graduates Ivory Crawford and Brittany Carter. The two combined for an average of 23.6 points per game, and Carter led the team in steals, closing the season with 80. Crawford grabbed 64 steals herself last season, helping the Illini to a league-leading 11.2 steals per game.
NEWCOMERS
The Illini welcome a decorated class of freshman this year, including Parade All-American Cierra Rice, who was ranked as the No. 1 player out of Michigan. Ranked at No. 5 in the state of Minnesota, Alex Wittinger also joins the Illini this year. She grabbed 21 rebounds in her first outing with the Illini, an exhibition matchup against the AMW All Stars in Paris, France. Coming off of a stint with the Canadian National team, Jaelyne Kirkpatrick joins the Illini this season. She was ranked as the No. 1 guard in Canada.
The Illini also welcome some experience to the program this year in seniors Eriel Davis and Simone Law. Law comes to Illinois from Loyola-Chicago, where she earned First Team All-Horizon League honors and was twice named to the Horizon League All-Tournament Team. Davis, a native of Danville, returns to the Illini squad after two seasons. She was a member of the 2012-13 squad and assisted the team as a practice player prior to that.
ILLINI WELCOME JODY MARTINEZ
Head coach Matt Bollant announced the addition of Jody Martinez to the Illini staff over the summer. Martinez brings 17 years of head coaching experience with him, and he has led his teams to more than 400 wins in his head-coaching career. Martinez comes to Illinois from Southeastern University, where he led the Fire to a 25-7 record in the 2014-15 season and guided the program to its first-ever NAIA Division II Women's Basketball NIT. Prior to his stint at Southeastern, Martinez served as the head coach for the Bethel Pilots, where he led the Lady Pilots to 20 or more wins in 15 of his 16 seasons at the helm of the program, and prior to his arrival in 1998, the program had never seen a winning season. Martinez guided the Lady Pilots to six NCCAA National Championship titles and made seven trips to the NAIA National Tournament including five elite eight appearances. His teams won three MCC regular season titles and an MCC tournament championship as well.
ILLINI MAKE WAVES ON A NATIONAL STAGE
Illini sophomore Chatrice White and freshman Jaelyne Kirkpatrick were busy over the summer, competing at the FIBA U19 World Championships. Kirkpatrick competed for Canada, while White helped to bring home the gold on team USA. White averaged five points per game while in Russia, playing in seven games throughout the tournament.
TOUR DE FRANCE
The Illini packed in some extra practice over the summer, heading overseas to play a few games in France. The Illini faced off against Paris' professional team, the AMW All Stars, and also played two games against Bretigny Select. Freshmen Alex Wittinger, Jaelyne Kirkpatrick and Cierra Rice got a taste of competition, as they competed with their new teammates for the first time.
While across the pond, the Illini got to take some time to see the sights. Tour stops included the Eiffel Tower, Monaco, Lyon, and Nice.
A NEW HOME
After the 2013-14 season, the Fighting Illini had to vacate their home arena, State Farm Center, as the three-year, $169.5 million Illinois Renaissance renovation project began. The renovation includes the installation of premium seating, upgrades to team locker rooms, all concourses, concession and restroom facilities, and wider aisles and increased access for patrons with disabilities. In addition, air conditioning will be installed and grand entrances will be constructed on the arena's east and west sides. While most of the first year of construction's work was mechanical and infrastructure-related, fans will notice new, blue seats in the 200 level, which was formerly known as "C" section.
ILLINI INK FOUR FOR 2016
The Fighting Illini Women's Basketball program and head coach Matt Bollant announce the signing of four standout players to national letters of intent on Wednesday, Nov. 11. Ali Andrews (Lake in the Hills, Ill.), Brandi Beasley (Memphis, Tenn.), Courtney Joens (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and Sarah Overcash (Chevy Chase, Md.) will join the Illini for the 2016-17 season.
Ali Andrews // 6-2 // F // Lake in the Hills, Ill. // Huntley HS
Ranked the No. 14 forward in the country and No. 1 in Illinois by ESPN HoopGurlz…Ranked as the No. 79 recruit in the nation…Class 4A All-State Team…Helped Huntley to two-straight Fox Valley Conference Valley Division titles…Has scored more than 1,800 points in her high school career so far…Daily Herald Fox Valley All-Area Team Co-Captain…Associated Press First Team All-State selection…Has earned Huntley three consecutive regional titles and two straight sectional titles.
Brandi Beasley // 5-6 // G // Memphis, Tenn. // Ridgeway HS
Stands as the No. 2-ranked recruit from the state of Tennessee and the No. 27-ranked point guard in the nation by ESPN HoopGurlz…AAA Miss Basketball Finalist…Chose Illinois over Florida, MTSU, UT Martin, Vanderbilt and Memphis…Plans to study engineering at Illinois.
Courtney Joens // 5-10 // G // Iowa City, Iowa // City High
Achievements: Ranked the No. 27 point guard in the country by ESPN HoopGurlz, and the top out of the state of Iowa…Ranked among the top-5 guards in Iowa by IowaPreps.com…Holds City High's single-game records for points (42) and three-pointers (8)…Chose Illinois over Creighton, Drake, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota and DePaul…Made 41 three-pointers in her sophomore season while averaging 14.6 points per game…Took City High to the 2013 state semifinals…Volunteers at her local elementary school and at her church…Consistently appears on the Iowa City High School Honor Roll.
Sarah Overcash // 6-1 // F // Chevy Chase, Md. // St. John's College
The top-ranked recruit out of the District of Columbia…Named DCSAA First Team All-State in 2015…Played with Penn State's Amari Carter and Michigan signee Kayla Robbins...Chose Illinois over Penn and Princeton…First-Team All-WCAC selection.
