QUICK HITS
Illinois...
...ranks 7th in the nation for its 32 defensive boards per game
...is averaging 44.8 rebound per game to rank 24th in the country
...junior Brandi Beasley leads the B1G with 6.8 assists per game
...senior Alex Wittinger ranks 5th in the B1G for her 165 points per game
...also sees Wittinger at No. 2 the league for her 2.9 blocks per game
...is in the midst of a six-game home-stretch
...is ranked third in the Big Ten for its 79.0 points per game
• TUESDAY'S GAME: Illinois will take a weekend off before hosting Murray State on Tuesday, December 11. The two teams will meet for the second time in program history and the first time since Dec. 22, 2014. The Illini own a 1-0 record over the Racers, earning a 64-44 victory in the last matchup. Tuesday's game will be live streamed on BTN Plus, and fans can listen in on WDWS AM-1400.
• COMING UP: The Illini will host SIUE on Saturday, December 15. Fans who attend Illinois men's basketball's 1 p.m. contest can use their ticket stub to attend the women's basketball game at 6. The Illini will also be offering $3 tickets in exchange for a toy donation, collected on behalf of Toys for Tots of Champaign County.
• LAST TIME OUT: Fighting Illini Women's Basketball topped the Indiana State Sycamores, 75-57, on Wednesday night at the State Farm Center. Seniors Alex Wittinger and Sarah Shewan led the Orange and Blue with 18 and 17 points each, respectively. Wittinger also tallied eight boards and five blocks on the night, while Shewan was 4-for-4 from the free throw line. She has been perfect from the line in two consecutive games. Wittinger and Shewan were joined in double-figure scoring numbers by Brandi Beasley (14) and Cierra Rice (10). Beasley added five assists on the night, marking her 23rd career game dishing five or more dimes. Illinois scored 40 of its points in the paint, and also added 20 points off of Indiana State turnovers.
• SCOUTING MURRAY STATE: The Racers are 3-3 on the weekend, coming off of losses to Alabama A&M and Arkansas State. Four Racers are scoring in double-figures this season, led by Evelyn Adebayo (16.2) and Mcey Turley (13.3). Adebayo is also grabbing 10 boards per game to lead Murray State. The Racers are shooting 44.3-percent from the field this season, and forcing 18.5 opponent turnovers per game.
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.
THE 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).
ONE OF THE GREATS
Illinois head coach Nancy Fahey is in the midst of quite the storied career. She has accumulated 752 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 750 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).
BENCH POINTS
Illinois' bench has been strong so far this year, contributing 34-percent of Illinois' scoring. Freshman Arieal Scott leads the Orange and Blue when coming off the pine, averaging 11.5 points per game. She's among team leaders for her 14 three-pointers on the year as well. Graduate transfer Sarah Shewan is averaging 7.5 points per game and grabbing 4.0 rebounds per game off the bench to lead Illinois as well.
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. Illinois followed that up with a season-best 56 rebounds against Sacramento State. The Illini have outrebounded three opponents by 10 or more boards this season, and have outrebounded seven of eight opponents overall.
The Orange and Blue are averaging 44.9 boards per game this season, a number that ranks 24th in the country and fifth in the Big Ten. Maryland leads the league with its 49 rebounds per game. The Illini are also ranked among the top teams in the country for their defensive rebounding. The Illini rank second in the Big Ten and seventh in the nation for their 32 defensive rebounds per contest this season.
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 48 more blocks to take sole ownership of Illinois' career blocked shots record.
Wittinger has totaled 25 blocks this season, which ranks second in the Big Ten and 8th in the country. She is averaging 2.57 blocks per game this year, which ranks second in the Big Ten and 10th in the country.
ON THE HUNT FOR 1K
Illini junior Brandi Beasley is on the hunt for her 1,000th career point this season. She has racked up 890 career points, and needs just 110 points to reach the millennium mark. Beasley needs to average 5.2 points per game to reach that number during regular season play. Beasley will be the 30th Illini to reach 1,000 career points in Illinois history.
OVERTIME EXTRAVAGANZA
The Fighting Illini entered into new territory against Eastern Michigan on Dec. 1, playing their second-consecutive overtime contest. Illinois' pair of games (Clemson, EMU) marks the first time in program history that an llini squad has played back-to-back overtime games. Including this season, Illinois has played two or more overtime games in nine seasons all-time.
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 280 assists so far in her career in the Orange and Blue, and ranks 16th all-time for that number.
Beasley is averaging 6.8 assists per game this year, a number which leads Illinois and ranks among the nation's best. Beasley leads the Big Ten for her dimes, and ranks 10th in the country for those numbers. Her 54 total assists this year leads the league and comes in at 16th in the nation. Beasley's 2.45 assist/turnover ratio ranks third in the league as well.
Beasley has dished at least one assist in every game of her career thus far (70), and has passed out five or more dimes in 23 contests.
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.
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 224 career blocked shots and will chase the No. 1 spot this season.
Illinois Career Blocked Shots List
1. 271 Karisma Penn 2009-13
2. 231 Jenna Smith 2006-10
3. 224 Alex Wittinger 2016-
4. 163 Lacey Simpson 2005-10
5. 156 Kendra Gantt 1981-85
THE CENTURY MARK
Illinois posted a season-best 107 points in a loss to Sacramento State in San Luis Obispo, California. Illinois' 107 points mark the fourth-most in a game in Illinois history and the first time since Nov. 17, 2014 that an Illini squad has put up more than 100 points in a game.
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.
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.
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 92 career treys made currently rank 11th all-time at Illinois.
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 344 career offensive boards, and is at No. 9 on the all-time total rebounding list (803).
Wittinger is averaging 4.1 offensive boards per game this year, which puts her fourth in the Big Ten. Her 10.0 total rebounds per game rank fifth in the Big Ten and 43rd in the country.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE THE FUN
Senior Alex Wittinger (32 pts, 14 rebs) and junior Brandi Beasley (12 pts, 10 ast) combined for two double-doubles in Illinois' loss to Sacramento State. The two double-doubles in the contest mark the first time the Illini have seen two players record double-doubles since November 30, 2016 in a 76-70 loss to Wake Forest, when both Wittinger and Beasley also combined for a pair of double-doubles. Wittinger finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds in that contest, and Beasley tallied 14 points and 11 boards.
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.
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.
ILLINI ON THE NETWORK
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.
