Quick Hits
Illinois is...
...set to take on the Cal Poly ShareSLO Holiday Beach Classic
...taking on Cal Poly in its first road game of the year
...on the look out for Coach Fahey's 750th career victory
...returning 80-percent of its scoring from last year
...welcoming five newcomers this season
...set to face 12 opponents coming off of postseason appearances
...hosting 7 2018 NCAA Tournament teams at the State Farm Center
THE TOURNAMENT: The Orange and Blue will hit the road for the Thanksgiving weekend, heading to San Luis Obispo, California for the Cal Poly ShareSLO Holiday Beach Classic. Illinois will take on Cal Poly on Friday, Nov. 23 (4 p.m. CT) before facing Sacramento State on Saturday (4 p.m. CT). The radio broadcast for both games can be found at FightingIllini.com, and the video stream for Friday's contest will be available at www.bigwest.com.
THE COACHES
ILLINOIS: Nancy Fahey // 12-22 at Illinois (2nd year) // 749-155 overall (33rd year)
CAL POLY: Faith Mimnaugh // 293-324 at Cal Poly (22nd year) // 293-324 overall (22nd year)
SACRAMENTO STATE: Bunky Harkleroad //Â 68-85 at Sacramento St. (6th year) // 326-211 overall (18th year)
COMING UP:Â The Illini will continue their road stretch at Clemson on Nov. 28. Set to tipoff at 6 p.m. CT, the game will be part of the ACC/B1G Challenge.Â
SCOUTING CAL POLY: The Cal Poly Mustangs are 1-4 on the season, earning their only victory over Academy of Art. Devin Stanback leads the Mustangs with her 16.8 points per game. Alicia Roufosse is also among scoring leaders for her 10.4 points per game. Katie Nunnelley leads Cal Poly on the boards, averaging 9.4 rebounds per contest. The Mustangs are shooting 41.3-percent from the floor this season, averaging 69.2 points per game. Â
SCOUTING SACRAMENTO STATE: The Sacramento State Hornets are 1-0 on the season, earning their first victory over Cal Poly. THe Hornets were slated to face Ohio State on November 16, but the game was cancelled due to poor air quality. Sacramento State will face Pepperdine in the ShareSLO Holiday Beach Classic on Friday, prior to facing off against the Illini on Saturday. Sacramento State earned an 88-85 victory over Cal Poly in its season opener, led by Hannah Friend's 25 points. The Hornets shot 35.2-percent from the field in the matchup, grabbing 46 boards and forcing 34 Cal Poly turnovers.Â
2018-19 SEASON OUTLOOK
The Orange and Blue are in store for an exciting slate in Nancy Fahey's second season at the helm of the program. The Illini will take on 12 teams who saw postseason action during the 2017-18 season, including 2018 Postseason WNIT Champion, Indiana. The Orange and Blue are also set to welcome seven 2018 NCAA Tournament teams to the State Farm Center this season.
The 2018-19 nonconference slate features eight home contests, including four weekend matchups. Illinois will play an 18-game Big Ten schedule. It is the sixth time in the last 12 years the conference has played an 18-game schedule. Illinois will face five schools both home and away and play the eight remaining schools once. Of the single-play opponents, the Illini will play four at home and four on the road.
THEÂ FAHEY ERA CONTINUES
The Illini have opened their second season under the direction of head coach Nancy Fahey. In her first season at Illinois, Fahey coached the Orange and Blue to a 9-5 nonconference record, which marked the best start to the season since Illinois also earned nine non-conference victories in the 2014-15 campaign (9-3). Illinois won four of its last five games leading up to league play, with the streak marking the most consecutive victories for the Orange and Blue since the start of the 2015-16 season. Under Fahey's guidance, Illini junior Alex Wittinger garnered All-Big Ten Second Team honors, and also matched the school record for single-season offensive rebounds (125). Wittinger earned the program's second-ever triple double during the 2017-18 campaign, and set a new single-game record for blocked shots (11).
ON THE BOARDS
The Fighting Illini posted quite the rebounding performance against Valparaiso, outrebounding the Crusaders, 51-23. The 28-rebound margin marks the largest rebounding advantage posted by an Illinois squad since outrebounding Fort Wayne (then IPFW), 51-22, on February 22, 2005. The Illini have outrebounded each of the last two opponents by 10 or more boards.Â
ONE OF THE GREATS
Illinois head coach Nancy Fahey is in the midst of quite the storied career. She has accumulated 749 career victories, a number that ranks among the top totals in the NCAA. Her win total currently checks in at No. 19 among all NCAA head coaches, a category that's led by Pat Summitt (1098). Fahey's 748 career victories also ranks eighth among current active NCAA Division I head coaches and 11th among all active NCAA head coaches. She has racked up the second-most career victories among active Big Ten head coaches as well. Of active head coaches with more than 700 victories, Fahey's .828 winning percentage ranks second only to Geno Auriemma (.883).
SECOND HALF SURGE
The Illini are off to a strong start on the season, boasting a 3-0 record on the year. In each of its three victories, Illinois has picked up momentum in the second half of games. The Illini are outscoring opponents by 12 points in the second half of games, and have knocked down 12 of their 22 three-pointers in the second half. Illinois is also outrebounding opponents by 7.7 boards in the second half of contests so far this season.Â
BENCH POINTS
Illinois' bench has been strong so far this year, contributing 32.5-percent of Illinois' scoring. Freshman Arieal Scott leads the Orange and Blue off the pine, averaging nine points per game. She's among team leaders for her six three-pointers on the year as well. Freshman J-Naya Ephraim is grabbing four rebounds per game off the bench to lead Illinois.Â
NEWCOMERS IN ACTION
All five Illini newcomers made their debut in the Orange and Blue against Alabama A&M, each tallying at least two points. Freshman Arieal Scott led the way with 10 points for the Illini, and freshman J-Naya Ephraim added eight rebounds on the day. Freshman Mackenzie Blazek was also a standout performer as she recorded seven points and three boards.Â
BLOCKING UP THE RECORD BOOKS
Now in her senior season, Alex Wittinger has already had quite the career for the Illini. She tallied 75 rejections through 31 games last season, a number that ranked 18th in the country and is just three shy of Illinois' single season record. She tallied 74 blocks in the 2016-17 season, which sits in the No. 3 single-game spot all-time at Illinois. Wittinger has recorded five or more blocks in five career games and reset her own Illinois single-game blocks record with 11 rejections at Penn State. That number also reset the Bryce Jordan Center blocked shots record.Â
Wittinger became just the eighth player in Illinois history to record 100 career blocks on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017 and also set a new single-game record with her eight rejections against Wright State during the 2016-17 season. She currently Ranks third all-time with her 207 career blocked shots and will chase the No. 1 spot this season.Â
Illinois Career Blocked Shots List
1. 271 Karisma Penn 2009-13
2. 231 Jenna Smith 2006-10
3. 207 Alex Wittinger 2016-
4. 163 Lacey Simpson 2005-10
5. 156 Kendra Gantt 1981-85
THE BIG 2-0-0
Fighting Illini senior forward Alex Wittinger earned her 200th career block on Nov. 7 in Illinois' season opener against Alabama A&M. Wittinger is just the third Illini in school history to reach the 200 blocked shots mark, and she needs just 68 more blocks to take sole ownership of Illinois' career blocked shots record.Â
PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN HONORS
Fighting Illini senior forward Alex Wittinger was honored by the Big Ten Conference as she was named to the 2018-19 Preseason All-Big Ten Team as chosen by both the league's coaches and media. Wittinger led Illinois in several statistical categories last season, including scoring (15.0 ppg.), rebounding (9.0 rpg.), blocked shots (75) and field goal percentage (48.8). She ranked among the top five in the Big Ten for her total rebounding, offensive rebounding and blocked shots numbers.
LISA LESLIE AWARD WATCH LIST
Fighting Illini senior Alex Wittinger was named to the 2019 Lisa Leslie Award Watch List, as announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Named after the three-time All-American and 1994 National Player of the Year, the annual award in its second year recognizes the top centers in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. Wittinger is one of 20 candidates named to the watch list. By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2019 Lisa Leslie Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Leslie and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The Selection Committee for the Lisa Leslie Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. Fans will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist at www.hoophallawards.com. The winner of the 2019 Lisa Leslie Center Award will be revealed on an ESPN platform during the 2019 Women's Final Four in Tampa, Florida.
BEASLEY'S BACK
The Illini return junior point guard Brandi Beasley for her junior season in 2018-19. After a standout freshman season, Beasley returned in her sophomore year to appear in all 31 of Illinois' matchups. She was among Illinois scoring leaders last season as she averaged 12.3 points per game. She led Illinois in assists, dishing 3.6 per game and totaling 111 on the year. Beasley has racked up 249 assists so far in her career in the Orange and Blue, and will look to break into the top 20 in the record books this season. With just 11 more dimes, she will move into the No. 20 spot all-time for her career assists, tying Tiffanie Guthrie who recorded 260 in her career. (2001-05).Â
ANDREWS ON POINT
Illinois junior Ali Andrews is among Illini returners this season. Last season, Andrew's matched Illinois' single-season three-point field goal percentage record with her 41.2-percent shooting from distance (40-97). Andrews recorded a carer-high 26 points against Wichita State at the New Mexico Thanksgiving Tournament last season, highlighted by another career-best six three-pointers (6-of-8) and 81.8-percent shooting from the floor. In her freshman season, Andrews netted 37-of-94 three-pointers. Her 83 career treys made currently rank 15th all-time at Illinois. Â
WITTINGER ON THE GLASS
Illini senior Alex Wittinger crashed the boards last season as she closed the year tied at No. 9 all-time at Illinois for her 278 total rebounds on the year. Wittinger had a monster performance against Ohio State (Feb. 13, 2018) as she grabbed a season-high 16 rebounds. Her 11 offensive boards in the matchup mark the third-most for an Illini in a single-game in program history, and she is joined in that spot by Jonelle Polk who also grabbed 11 at Indiana in 1987. Wittinger recorded 125 offensive rebounds last season, which matches Illinois' single-season record set by Karisma Penn (2013-13). She currently ranks sixth all-time for her 23 career offensive boards, and is at No. 11 on the all-time total rebounding list (751).
TRIPLE-DOUBLE TROUBLE
Illini senior Alex Wittinger reached several milestones on January 23, 2018 at Penn State. In addition to recording her 1,000th career point, she carded the second triple-double in Illinois' history with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 11 blocked shots. The last Illini player to record a triple-double was Kim Brombolich on Jan. 22, 1982. Wittinger is just second player in the Big Ten Conference to record a triple-double this season and 17th player in the nation. She recorded the fifth points-rebounds-blocks triple-double in the nation this season. Wittinger is the first Illini in program history to earn a triple-double with points, rebounds and blocked shots.
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Beginning with the 2018-19 season, fans attending events at State Farm Center will be permitted to carry one clear plastic or vinyl bag that does not exceed 12"x6"x12", or one clear drawstring bag not to exceed 12"x12", or one, one-gallon clear plastic or zip-lock bag. A small clutch no larger than 4.5" x 7" may also be carried in addition to one clear bag. Diaper bags (with child) and bags approved for medical needs will be permitted after search by security personnel. All other bags, backpacks, totes and coolers are strictly prohibited. To present a safe event for everyone, jackets may be searched upon entry. If prohibited items are found, the item will be confiscated OR the guest may personally return it to their vehicle or otherwise dispose of the item away from the facility. State Farm Center does not check or otherwise safeguard personal belongings. This bag policy is subject to change. Please check the event details for any additional specific event restrictions.
Check here for more information: http://www.statefarmcenter.com/plan-your-visit/clear-bag-policy.
ILLINI ON THE NETWORKÂ
Three of Illinois' games will air live on the Big Ten Network, and the remaining conference games will be streamed on BTN Plus.The Illini will make their Big Ten Network debut on December 31 at Northwestern, with a tip time set for 2 p.m. CT. Illinois will have two home games televised live on the network, beginning February 4 against Maryland. Illinois will also host Penn State on BTN at 6:30 p.m. February 24. The 2019 Big Ten Tournament will also be aired on the Big Ten Network, with games beginning at 12:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, March 6 and continuing through Game 12 on Saturday, March 9. The Big Ten Tournament Championship Game will air on ESPN2 on Sunday, March 10 at 5 p.m. CT.
All BTN basketball programming can be streamed via the web, smartphones, tablets and connected devices on BTN2Go and the Fox Sports app.
ILLINI WBB TICKETS
Season and single-game tickets for the 2018-19 Fighting Illini women's basketball season are available now. Fans can renew, upgrade or purchase new season tickets online, at the Illinois ticket office located inside the West Main entrance of State Farm Center, or by phone at 1-866-ILLINI-1. General admission women's basketball season tickets are available for $40 each, while reserved season tickets are available for $75. Single-game general admission, reserved tickets and floor seating are available for as low as $5 per game.
