Illinois is...
...9-15 on the season and in the Nancy Fahey era
...honoring National Girls & Women in Sports Day on Sunday
...hosting Purdue on the Big Ten Network
...ranked fourth for its 5.1 blocked shots per game in Big Ten play
...led in scoring and rebounding by Alex Wittinger
QUICK HITS
• SUNDAY'S GAME: The Illini host Purdue on Sunday, Feb. 4 at 1 p.m. for National Girls and Women in Sports Day. The Illini will host Mother Daughter Day, offering two tickets and two Illini prize packs for just $6.
• COMING UP: Illinois will travel to Indiana on Thursday, Feb. 8 before returning to Champaign to host Ohio State at 7 p.m. on Feb. 13. The game will mark Illinois' annual Play4Kay contest, as the Illini will help raise awareness about women's cancers.
• LAST TIME OUT: Fighting Illini women's basketball dropped a tough defensive battle to the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Thursday evening, 62-47. Three Illini scored in double digits, led by redshirt sophomore Cierra Rice who matched her season-high with 13 points. Junior Alex Wittinger contributed 10 points and eight rebounds, while redshirt senior Kennedy Cattenhead added 10 points and knocked down 4-of-5 from the free throw line.
• SCOUTING PURDUE: The Boilermakers are 15-8 on the season and 6-3 in Big Ten play. The squad is on a two-game winning streak, coming off of an 81-79 overtime victory at Michigan. Andreona Keys leads Purdue, averaging 13.3 points per game on 50-percent shooting this season. She is also averaging 5.2 rebounds per game. Ae'Rianna Harris leads the Boilermakers with her 8.2 boards per game, and is also among scoring leaders posting 12.7 points per contest. Purdue leads the Big ten in free throw shooting, knocking down 76.3-percent of shots from the charity stripe, and the team sits just above Illinois for its 5.1 blocked shots per game.
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.
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
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 793 total minutes played this season rank 7th in the Big Ten and 44th in the nation. Her 3.5 assists per game check in at No. 16 in the league, while her 85 total assists come in at No. 11. Beasley ranks third for her 85.7-percent free throw shooting.
Junior Alex Wittinger ranks third in the Big Ten 3.9 offensive boards per game and for her 2.7 blocked shots per game. Her 65 blocks this season check in at No. 11 in the nation and No. 3 in the league. Wittinger leads the Illini, averaging 8.7 total rebounds per game, which checks in at sixth in the Big Ten. Her 209 boards this year rank 33rd in the nation and fifth in the league. The Delano, Minnesota, native, has netted 145 field goals this season, putting herself at No. 11 in the Big Ten and No. 65 in the country. Her 13.8 points per game rank 16th in the Big Ten, while her 47.7-percent shooting ranks sixth.
As a team, the Orange and Blue rank sixth in the Big Ten for their 72.6-percent free throw shooting and Illinois' 4.7 blocked shots per game and 113 total blocks check in at fifth overall. The Illini are averaging 12.3 offensive rebounds per game, which comes in at No. 7 in the league. Illinois' 136 three-pointers this season rank eighth.
RICE IS ROCKIN'
Redshirt sophomore Cierra Rice has found her groove in league play. Rice is averaging 7.3 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in Big Ten contests, also dishing 12 assists through 10 league games. She's increased her output 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 three of the last five games, and has started in nine conference matchups.
ILLINI IN BIG TEN PLAY
Junior Alex Wittinger and sophomore Brandi Beasley continue to lead the Illini through league play. Wittinger is averaging 14.9 points per game in Big Ten play to rank 16th in the league, while Beasley averages 11.0 points per contest. Wittinger has tallied 84 rebounds through nine league games, and comes in at No. 6 in the Big Ten for her 8.4 rebounds per game in league play.
Wittinger leads the league with her 3.1 blocked shots in league play and is fourth in the league with her 4.0 offensive boards per game in Big Ten play as well. Her 47.9-percent shooting ranks eighth.
Beasley checks in at No. 14 in the Big Ten for her 3.6 assists per game in conference play.
As a team, the Illini average 5.8 thee-pointers per game in Big Ten play to rank eighth, and the team's 32.2-percent shooting from distance ranks eighth as well. The team's 5.1 blocked shots per game in league play come in at No. 4 in the Big Ten, and Illinois' 12.5 offensive boards per game check in at No. 7.
MOST RECENTLY...
Redshirt sophomore Cierra Rice has been on point as of late, as she has started in each of Illinois' last five games. She's averaging 9.8 points per game on a team-leading 39.5-percent shooting in that span and posted season-high 13 points against both Michigan State and Nebraska. Junior Alex Wittinger is averaging a team-leading 12.4 points per game on 39.3-percent shooting over the last five games. She has grabbed a team-leading 17 offensive boards and 17 blocks in that span. She has led Illinois in scoring in three of the last five games, and in rebounding in the last nine games. Sophomore Brandi Beasley is also among team leaders in the last five games, averaging 11.6 points per game in that time. She's knocked down 12-of-13 from the charity stripe and has dished 11 assists.
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.
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 fifth on the Illinois single-season blocked shots list with 65 this season.
BLOCKING UP THE RECORD BOOKS
In her junior season, Alex Wittinger has already had quite the career for the Illini. She has 65 rejections through 24 games this season, a number that currently ranks 11th in the country. Wittinger has recorded at least one block in all but two 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. 189 Alex Wittinger 2016-
4. 163 Lacey Simpson 2005-10
5. 156 Kendra Gantt 1981-85
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 24 of Illinois' contests and averages 3.6 points per game. Joens is averaging 5.3 points per game, however, when she's in the starting lineup. She leads Illinois off the bench, with nine steals, and posted a season-best 13 points against Nebraska at the State Farm Center.
HAPPY AT HOME
Illinois has grabbed six wins on Lou Henson Court so far this year, as the Illini are playing strongly at home. UI is shooting just under 40-percent from the floor at home (39.6) and knocks down 73.7-percent of its free throws while in Champaign. Alex Wittinger and Brandi Beasley lead Illinois in scoring at home, and Kennedy Cattenhead is shooting 51.1-percent from the floor. Wittinger is also among Illinois' top shooters at home, knocking down 48.9-percent of her shots. UI is averaging 7.2 steals per game at the State Farm Center, also forcing 14.3 opponent turnovers per matchup.
PETRA OFF THE PINE
Illini sophomore Petra Holesinska has come off the bench in 12 games this season and leads Illinois averaging 7.4 points per game in those contests. She is averaging 3.7 rebounds per contest when coming off the bench, and has dished 12 dimes.
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 five games, including blocking six shots against No. 15 Maryland.
DISHING IT OUT
Illini sophomore Brandi Beasley leads Illinois with her 85 assists this season, along with junior Jaelyne Kirkpatrick who has passed out 37 dimes. Beasley ranks 16th in the Big Ten for her 3.5 assists per game, and has recorded at least one assist in every game of her career (55). She has passed out five or more assists in four games this season and in 14 career games. Her 3.6 assists per game in league play rank 13th in the Big Ten.
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 30 treys this year, shooting 40-percent from beyond the arc.
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.
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 returns 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 returns 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 are looking to redshirt senior Kennedy Cattenhead for direction this season as the Bolingbrook, Illinois, native, has appeared in 87 games for the Orange and Blue. Cattenhead has been a staple in the starting lineup for two seasons, and earned the start in all 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.
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 will air live on the Big Ten Network, and the remaining conference games will be streamed on BTN Plus. Illinois will have four home games televised live on the network, beginning January 7 against Iowa. Illinois will also host Michigan State on BTN at 8 p.m. on January 16. The Illini will also appear on the Big Ten Network January 28 against Wisconsin and February 4 against Purdue at the State Farm Center. Illinois will also play one road game on BTN, 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.
ILLINI WBB TICKETS
Illinois women's basketball season and single game tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at FightingIllini.com, in person at the Illinois ticket office at State Farm Center or by phone at 1-866-ILLINI-1. General admission season tickets start at $30 each, while reserved season tickets are available for $75. Single game tickets can be purchased for $5.
