Illinois...
...is the No. 14 seed at the 2018 Big Ten Championship
...tallied 13 blocks against PSU (Jan. 23), the 2nd most for a B1G team
...is ranked seventh for its 4.1 blocked shots per game in Big Ten play
...is led in scoring and rebounding by Alex Wittinger
...junior Alex Wittinger earned All-B1G Second team recognition
...is 18-23 all-time at the Big Ten Tournament
QUICK HITS
• WEDNESDAY'S GAME: Illinois will take on the No. 11 seed Penn State on Wednesday at approximately 3 p.m. CT at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Ind. The game will air on WDWS AM-1400 and also be streamed live on BTN Plus.
• COMING UP: The winner of Wednesday's game will take on the No. 6 seed, Michigan, at approximately 8 p.m. CT on Thursday. The Championship game is set for 6 p.m. CT on March 4.
• LAST TIME OUT: Fighting Illini women's basketball used a strong third-quarter effort to take a late lead over the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Sunday afternoon, but the push wasn't enough as Minnesota outlasted the Illini to earn an 84-75 victory. Illinois was led by junior Alex Wittinger who posted 20 points and three rebounds on the day. Redshirt senior Kennedy Cattenhead and sophomore Brandi Beasley were also in double-figures, each adding 10 points. Cattenhead also contributed six rebounds and three assists on her senior day. The Illini close regular season play with a 9-21 record and a 0-16 mark in league play.
• SCOUTING PENN STATE: The Penn State Nittany Lions closed regular season play with a 15-14 record and 6-10 mark in league play. The team's leading scorers, Teniya Page (18.1 ppg) and Amari Carter (14.4 ppg), earned All-Big Ten recognition prior to tournament play. The Lady Lions are averaging 69.2 points per game this season, shooting just under 40-percent fromt he field. The team averaged 13.4 turnovers per contest and forces 16.3 from its opponents.
A GRAND ole time
Illini junior Alex Wittinger reached another career milestone on Jan. 23 at Penn State. In addition to becoming one of just eight Illini to surpass 100 career blocks, the Delano, Minn., native earned her 1,000th career point. Wittinger is Illinois' 29th 1,000-point scorer and the 14th fastest Illini to reach the millennium mark. Wittinger's 1,141 career points rank 21st all-time at Illinois.
Name Years Played Games to reach 1,000 points
1. Ashley Berggren (1994-98) 56 games
2. Lisa Robinson (1978-92) 61 games
Chatrice White (2014-16) 61 games
4. Susan Blauser (1998-00) 64 games
5. Kendra Gantt (1981-85) 65 games
6. Jenna Smith (2006-10) 66 games
7. Allison Curtin (1998-01) 66 games
8. Jonelle Polk (1983-87) 70 games
9. Mandy Cunningham (1990-94) 72 games
Karisma Penn (2009-13) 72 games
11. Lynnette Robinson (1978-82) 77 games
Angie McClellan (1984-88) 77 games
Angelina Williams (2001-05) 77 games
14. Alex Wittinger (2015-present) 79 games
15. Alicia Sheeler (1996-99) 82 games
ALL-BIG TEN HONOREES
Fighting Illini junior Alex Wittinger was named to the 2018 All-Big Ten Second Team on Monday as announced by the Big Ten Conference office. Redshirt sophomore Cyndee Kinslow was also recognized by the league as Illinois' Sportsmanship Award honoree. The all-conference recognition marks the third career league honor for Wittinger as she was also named to the 2016 All-Big Ten Freshman Team and she was a 2017 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention.
ILLINI IN THE RANKINGS
Illini sophomore Brandi Beasley was tops among players in the country for her minutes played last season, and she is continuing that trend this year. Beasley's 971 total minutes played this season rank 14th in the Big Ten, just being Wittinger who sits at No. 12 (977 mins). Her 3.5 assists per game check in at No. 17 in the league, while her 106 total assists come in at No. 12. She ranks 26th in the league for her 12.0 points per game this season.
Junior Alex Wittinger ranks second in the Big Ten and 18th in the country for her 4.0 offensive boards per game and she comes in at No. 3 in the league for her 2.4 blocked shots per game. Her 72 blocks this season check in at No. 18 in the nation. Wittinger leads the Illini averaging 8.9 total rebounds per game, that number checks in at fifth in the Big Ten, as do her 267 total boards this year. The Delano, Minnesota, native, has netted 196 field goals this season, putting herself at No. 10 in the Big Ten and No. 48 in the country. Her 14.8 points per game rank 13th in the Big Ten, while her 48.5-percent shooting ranks seventh.
As a team, the Orange and Blue rank sixth in the Big Ten for their 73.6-percent free throw shooting and seventh for their 4.3 blocked shots per game. The Illini have racked up 128 blocked shots this season, and the squad averages 12.3 offensive rebounds per game to come in at No. 7 in the Big Ten. Illinois' 172 three-pointers this season rank ninth.
ON THE GLASS
Illini junior Alex Wittinger has been crashing the boards this season as she's currently holding the No. 15 spot all-time at Illinois for her 267 total rebounds this season. Wittinger had a monster performance against Ohio State (Feb. 13) 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 has 122 offensive rebounds this season, which ranks second all-time. She's just three offensive rebounds away from the single season record (125).
RICE IS ROCKIN'
Redshirt sophomore Cierra Rice has found her groove in league play. Rice is averaging 7.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per game in Big Ten contests, also dishing 24 assists through 16 league games. She's increased her ouput in conference play, as she posted 4.4 points per game during the nonconference, making 12 appearances during that time. Rice has scored in double-figures in four games, and has started in 14 conference matchups.
MOST RECENTLY...
Junior Alex Wittinger is averaging a team-leading 18.6 points per game on 50-percent shooting over the last five games. She has grabbed a team-leading 24 offensive boards and seven blocks in that span. She has led Illinois in scoring in three of the last five games including posting a career-high 30 points against Ohio State, and she's led the team in rebounding in 24 games. Sophomore Brandi Beasley is also among team leaders in the last five games, averaging 14.4 points per game in that time. She's dished 15 assists in that span.
Sophomore Petra Holesinska is among leaders on the glass in the last five games, averaging 5.4 boards per contest, and Ali Andrews has knocked down 10-of-20 three-pointers in the last five games, averaging 6.8 points per contest.
THREE IS THE MAGIC NUMBER
Illinois has shown quite the fight over the last three games, coming out of halftime rejuvenated. The Orange and Blue have outscored their opponents in the third quarter in each of the last three contests, and in four of the last five games.
TRIPLE-DOUBLE TROUBLE
Illini junior Alex Wittinger reached several milestones on January 23 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.
BLOCKING UP THE RECORD BOOKS
In her junior season, Alex Wittinger has already had quite the career for the Illini. She has 72 rejections through 30 games this season, a number that currently ranks 18th in the country and is just seven shy of Illinois' single season record. Wittinger has recorded at least one block in all but four games this season. She has recorded five or more blocks in five career games and reset her Illinois single-game blocks record with 11 rejections at Penn State. That number also reset the Bryce Jordan Center blocked shots record.
In her first two years on the court, the Delano, Minnesota, native racked up 124 blocks and climbed to the No. 6 spot on Illinois' all-time career blocks list. She carded 74 rejections last season to rank second all-time at Illinois and she led the Big Ten with her 2.6 blocked shots per game. 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 last season.
Illinois Career Blocked Shots List
1. 271 Karisma Penn 2009-13
2. 231 Jenna Smith 2006-10
3. 196 Alex Wittinger 2016-
4. 163 Lacey Simpson 2005-10
5. 156 Kendra Gantt 1981-85
BLOCKS RECORD
Wittinger's 11 blocked shots at Penn State mark a milestone in their own. That number sets an Illinois single-game record for rejections, surpassing the previous record of eight which Wittinger set last season against Wright State. Her 11 blocks at Penn State also mark the most for an NCAA women's opposing basketball player at Bryce Jordan Center. The 11 blocked shots is tied for the sixth-most in a Big Ten game in conference history and tied for the second-most blocks in a game this season. Wittinger is currently third on the Illinois single-season blocked shots list with 72 this season.
PETRA OFF THE PINE
Illini sophomore Petra Holesinska has come off the bench in 15 games this season and leads Illinois averaging 7.3 points per game in those contests. In her 26 total games played this year, Holesinska is knocking down 6.7 points per game. She is averaging 3.9 rebounds per contest when coming off the bench, and has dished 16 dimes. She's nabbed 9 of her 16 steals when coming off the bench.
JOENS-ING FOR A SPARK
Illini sophomore Courtney Joens provided a spark off the bench for Illinois for much of the season, so much so that she earned her first career start against Michigan State. Joens has appeared in all 30 of Illinois' contests and earned nine starts. Joens is averaging 3.3 points per game this season and has racked up 16 steals. Redshirt senior Kennedy Cattenhead is also successful when she appears in the starting lineup, she is averaging 5.1 points per game on the season, but puts up 6.2 points per game when she starts.
HAPPY AT HOME
Illinois grabbed six wins on Lou Henson Court this year, playing strongly at home. UI shot just under 40-percent from the floor at home (39.1) and knocked down 75.4-percent of its free throws while in Champaign. Alex Wittinger (16.3 ppg) and Brandi Beasley (12.6 ppg) lead Illinois in scoring at home, and Kennedy Cattenhead is shooting 52.5-percent from the floor. Wittinger is also among Illinois' top shooters at home, knocking down 50-percent of her shots. She grabbed a team-leading 9.2 boards per game at home. UI averaged 7.1 steals per game at the State Farm Center, also forcing 14.3 opponent turnovers per matchup.
BLOCK IT OUT
The Illini are big on rejection lately, as the squad has recorded more blocked shots than its opponent in 16 games and hold an 8-8 record when out-blocking the competition. Illinois has tallied the same number of blocked shots as its opponent in six games, including blocking six shots against No. 15 Maryland.
DISHING IT OUT
Illini sophomore Brandi Beasley leads Illinois with her 106 assists this season, along with junior Jaelyne Kirkpatrick who has passed out 41 dimes. Beasley ranks 17th in the Big Ten for her 3.5 assists per game, and has recorded at least one assist in every game of her career (61). She has passed out five or more assists in five games this season and in 15 career games. Her 3.6 assists per game in league play rank 15th in the Big Ten. Beasley has recorded more than 100 assists in back-to-back seasons.
FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
With five newcomers and 11 underclassmen on the roster this season, the Orange and Blue boast one of the youngest rosters in the Big Ten. The Illini are composed of 73-percent underclassmen on the court, meaning redshirt sophomore or younger, and only Purdue has a larger percentage of young players. The Boilermakers have 10 underclassmen on their 13-person roster (76-percent). The next-youngest squad in the league is Northwestern, who is 66-percent composed of underclassmen.
ANDREWS AT A DISTANCE
Illini sophomore Ali Andrews was on fire against Wichita State, knocking down 6-of-8 shots from distance, and going 9-for-11 from the field. She used a career-high 26 points to help lift the Illini over the Shockers. Andrews was also 2-for-2 from the free throw line, and grabbed four rebounds.
Andrews has netted a career-best six three-pointers in two career games (Nebraska, 3/1/2017), and the performance is tied for the sixth-best for an Illini in school history. The Lake in the Hills, Illinois, native has netted a team-leading 40 treys this year, shooting 41.7-percent from beyond the arc. She's also among team leaders for her 42.2-percent shooting from the floor (78-of-185).
ILLINI IN BIG TEN PLAY
Junior Alex Wittinger and sophomore Brandi Beasley continued to lead the Illini through league play. Wittinger averaged 16.4 points per game in Big Ten play to rank 11th in the league, while Beasley averaged 11.6 points per contest to rank 29th. Wittinger tallied 142 rebounds through 16 league games, and comes in at No. 5 in the Big Ten for her 8.9 rebounds per game in that time.
Wittinger ranks fourth in the league with her 2.4 blocked shots in league play and third for her 4.3 offensive boards per game in Big Ten play as well. Her 49.2-percent shooting ranks eighth.
Beasley checks in at No. 15 in the Big Ten for her 3.6 assists per game in conference play.
As a team, the Illini averaged 5.9 three-pointers per game in Big Ten play to rank eighth. The team's 4.1 blocked shots per game in league play come in at No. 7 in the Big Ten, and Illinois' 12.4 offensive boards per game in league play check in at No. 7.
LOOKING AT THE NON-CON
The Illini closed non-conference play with a 9-5 record, marking 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 when the program won its first four matchups. Illinois wrapped up non-conference play against 15th-ranked Missouri, marking the first ranked non-conference opponent for the Illini the team topped then-No. 9 Kentucky on Nov. 11, 2014. The Orange and Blue averaged 65.2 points per game and 38.6 rebounds per game in the nonconference, forcing 15.1 opponent turnovers per game.
A NEW ERA
Illinois opened the Nancy Fahey era of women's basketball on November 10 with a victory over the Fort Wayne Mastodons. A four-time hall of fame inductee, Fahey boasts 746 career victories and led Washington University to five Division III National Championship titles. Fahey was hired as the ninth head women's basketball coach in Illinois history on March 22, 2017.
BEASLEY'S BREAKOUT YEAR
Sophomore Brandi Beasley returned for the Illini this year, looking to build on a breakout freshman campaign. A 2017 Big Ten All-Freshman Team honoree, Beasley was among team leaders for the 13.6 points per game last season and also checked in at second among all Big Ten freshmen. She dished 120 assists on the season, becoming one of just four freshmen in Illinois history to record 100 dimes in their rookie season. Beasley was among league and national leaders for her 36.2 minutes played per game. She played a full 40 minutes in six contests.
Holešínská's Hot Shooting
Sophomore Petra Holešínská returned this season after a hot-shooting freshman campaign. The Vracov, Czech Republic, native was among the top three-point shooters in the Big Ten during her freshman season, leading all the league's freshmen with her 45.6-percent three-point shooting in conference play. Holešínská netted 54 treys during 2016-17, a number that ranks third all-time among Illinois freshmen. She shot 35.5-percent from distance on the season, which ranks fifth all-time on Illinois' freshman records list.
SENIOR STORIES
The Illini have looked to redshirt senior Kennedy Cattenhead for direction this season as the Bolingbrook, Illinois, native, has appeared in 111 games for the Orange and Blue. Cattenhead has been a staple in the starting lineup for two seasons, and earned the start in 21 of Illinois' games this season. She will look to continue her leadership both on and off the court.
Senior Alli Ball also brings experience to Illinois' lineup as she transferred from Akron after spending three years playing for the Zips. She appeared in 90 games for Akron, earning 13 starts throughout her career. Ball had quite the debut for Illinois, leading the team with 13 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. She's played in 26 games for the Illini.
KIRKPATRICK IN CANADA
Junior Jaelyne Kirkpatrick spent her summer traveling the world as she represented her home country on the Canada Development Women's National Team. Kirkpatrick traveled to both Japan and Australia this August for the U24 Women Basketball League Four Nations 2017 Tournament and the Taipei 2017 29th Summer Universiade. Kirkpatrick played in nine games through the two tournaments, averaging 20 minutes per game. She dished 22 assists overall, and averaged four points per game.
FAHEY SIGNS THREE FOR 2018-19
Head Coach Nancy Fahey announced her first recruiting class on Nov. 8, welcoming two top-100 recruits in Mackenzie Blazek and Arieal Scott, and a national team player in J-Naya Ephraim.
MACKENZIE BLAZEK | 6-3 | Forward | Franklin, Indiana | Whiteland Community High School
2017 IBCA Underclass All-State honoree,,,2016 IBCA Underclass Large School All-State honoree...Ranked No. 90 overall by ESPN Hoopgurlz...Daily Journal 2016-17 Player of the Year...Averaged 18 points and 13.4 rebounds per game for Whiteland last season
J-NAYA EPHRAIM | 5-9 | Guard | St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands | Southern Durham High School
Averaged 16.5 points and 10.8 rebounds per game for Southern Durham last season and tallied 16 double-doubles...Represented the Virgin Islands on both the U16 and U17 National Teams at the FIBA World University Games (2013-15)...NCBCA 2017 First Team All-District...2017 Big Eight Conference Player of the Year...Chose Illinois over Temple and James Madison
ARIEAL SCOTT | 5-9 | Guard | Urbana, Illinois | Urbana High School
2016 IBCA First Team 1A/2A All-State...No. 39-ranked recruit in the country according to Prospects Nation...Ranked among the top 100 players in the country by ESPN Hoopgurlz...Two-time News Gazette All-Area First Team honoree...Chose Illinois over Missouri, USC and Washington, among others.
ILLINI ON THE NETWORK
Five of Illinois' contests this season aired live on the Big Ten Network, and the remaining conference games were streamed on BTN Plus. Illinois four home games were televised live on the network, beginning January 7 against Iowa. Illinois also hosted Michigan State on BTN at 8 p.m. on January 16. The Illini appeared on the Big Ten Network January 28 against Wisconsin and February 4 against Purdue at the State Farm Center. Illinois also made an apperance on the network for one road game, at Michigan on January 20.
All BTN on-air games can be streamed via the web, smartphones, tablets and connected devices on BTN2Go, BTN's digital extension. More than 100 additional games also will be streamed on BTN Plus on BTN2Go, and many of those will air on delay on BTN as part of the Student U initiative.
BIG TEN TOURNAMENT TICKETS
General public tickets for the 2018 Big Ten Women's Basketball Championship are available at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse box office, Ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 800-745-3000. All-session tickets are available for $75. Fans wishing to purchase all-session tickets within their university's fan block for their respective team's games are encouraged to contact their school's ticket office. Seating for all sessions will again be general admission, so fans may watch the action from the best available seats in Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
