CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini women's basketball topped the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, 78-41, on Saturday afternoon behind a career-high 21-point performance from freshman Petra Holešínská. The Illini knocked down 12 three-pointers on the day, matching the second-most in a single game in Illinois history. Holešínská was 5-for-6 from distance and freshman Ali Andrews also knocked down 4-of-5 from deep. The Illini improve to 7-9 overall and 2-1 in Big Ten play with Saturday's win.
"I'm really happy for our team," head coach Matt Bollant said. "They work really hard and don't always see that kind of result. Today was a special game with a special result. I thought Petra {Holešínska} really got us going in the first half, she scored 17 and was really good. Throughout the game everyone stepped up and did a good job of finding their shooters and rebounding. It was a really fun game for our team. I thought Jaelyne {Kirkpatrick} and Brandi {Beasley} did a great job of taking care of the ball. I'm happy for our team, this was a good team win."
The freshman class came up big on Saturday as Holešínská, Brandi Beasley (13) and Andrews (12) all finished in double-figures to lead the Orange and Blue. Sophomore Alex Wittinger also posted 10 points on the day, marking her eighth consecutive double-digit scoring game. Nine Illini put points on the board Saturday, with the freshman class accounting for 56 of Illinois' 78 points. Beasley dished a career-best nine assists on the day as the Illini assisted on 19-of-29 field goals made. The Illini shot a season-best 50.9-percent from the field, holding Rutgers to just 26-percent shooting.
"It feels good," Beasley said of the victory. "This gives us confidence and belief in ourselves and it lets us know that our hard work is paying off."
The Illini got off to a hot start on Saturday, as Holesinska knocked down a three-pointer to give Illinois its first lead of the game. The Vracov, Czech Republic, native, went 3-for-3 from distance in the first quarter to lead all scorers with nine points. Beasley also contributed seven points in the opening period to give Illinois a 22-12 lead heading into the second quarter. The Illini scored five points off of three Rutgers turnovers to open the game, and held the Scarlet Knights without a field goal for the last 4:23 of the period.
The Illini defense stayed strong into the second quarter as the Orange and Blue did not allow a Rutgers field goal for almost six minutes into the second quarter. Illinois held Rutgers to just 12.5-percent shooting in the second quarter, but Holešínská stayed hot for the Illini. She knocked down all of Illinois' points in the second period, leading all scorers with 17 points and six rebounds at the half. Holešínská's five first-half three-pointers matched her career-high, as she was 5-for-6 before the break.
Sophomore Alex Wittinger kept the momentum going for the Illini with six points early in the second half. Illinois used a 10-0 run to extend its lead over the Scarlet Knights in the period. Sophomore Jaelyne Kirkpatrick added two three-pointers in the period, while freshmen Ali Andrews and Sarah Overcash also contributed to Illinois' lead. The Orange and Blue outscored Rutgers 25-8 in the third quarter.
The Illini and the Scarlet Knights traded buckets through the final period. Andrews netted three of her triples in the fourth quarter, to ensure that Rutgers would not close the gap. Illinois posted 17 second chance points on 12 offensive rebounds Saturday afternoon and scored 14 points off of 12 Rutgers turnovers.
The Illini will be back in action on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at Iowa. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Stay tuned to FightingIllini.com for the latest on Illinois women's basketball.
Team Notes
- The Fighting Illini improved to 7-9 overall and 2-1 in Big Ten play with a 78-41 victory over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
- Illinois snapped a three-game losing streak in the all-time series against Rutgers. RU leads the overall series against UI, 3-1.
- Saturday's win marks Illinois' fifth consecutive home victory this season.
- The Illini knocked down 12 three-pointers against the Scarlet Knights, good for the program's second-most in a single game. The last time the Illini knocked down 12 treys was on Dec. 7, 2016 against South Dakota.
- Illinois shot 57.1-percent (12-for-21) from beyond the arc is a team season-high.
- The Orange and Blue shot a season-high 50.9-percent from the field. The last time the Illini shot above 50-percent from the field was on Feb. 17, 2016 against Wisconsin.
- The Illini had a season-high 19 assists.
- The 37-point margin of victory was the highest for an Illini team since Nov. 24, 2015 against Tennessee State.
- The 37-point margin of victory was the second largest in a Big Ten game. The Illini topped Michigan State, 98-51 (47) on Feb. 15, 1998.
- Rutgers surrendered a season-high 78 points to Illinois.
- Illinois held Rutgers to a season-low 6.7-percent from beyond the arc, marking the second time this season the Illini have held an opponent to one three-point field goal.
- The Illinois freshman class contributed 56 of Illinois' 78 total points.
- Four Illini posted double-figure scoring totals on Saturday, good for the fifth game this season four or more Illini have scored in double-digits.
- Illinois held Rutgers to a 25.9-percent field goal percentage. The Illini have held two opponents to under 26-percent shooting from the field.
Individual Notes
- Freshman Petra Holešínská scored a career-high 21 points.
-Holešínská tied her career-high with five made three-pointers.
-Holešínská made a career-best seven field goals.
-Holešínská's 21-point scoring total is good for her third-consecutive game in double-digits and eighth game overall.
- Freshman Brandi Beasley dished a career-high nine assists.
-Beasley contributed her ninth double-digit scoring total of the season.
-Freshman Ali Andrews knocked down a career-high four three-pointers.
-Andrews finished the game with 12 points, good for her second double-digit scoring effort.
- Sophomore Alex Wittinger posted a double-figure scoring total for the eighth-consecutive game with 10 points on Saturday.
- Wittinger tied her season-high with two assists.
-Wittinger added two blocks in the game, the sophomore entered the game leading the Big Ten with 2.6 blocks per game.
- Freshman Meagan McNicholas swiped her first career-steal.
- Freshman Sarah Overcash played a season-high 17 minutes.
