QUICK HITS
THE COACHES
ILLINOIS: Nancy Fahey // 18-27 at Illinois (2nd year) // 755-160 overall (33rd year)
RUTGERS: C. Vivian Stringer // 488-270 at Rutgers (24th year) // 1008-405 overall (48th year)
SERIES NOTES vs. RUTGERS
Series Record: Illinois trails, 1-4
Last Meeting: January 3, 2018 | Rutgers 76, Illinois 37 | Piscataway, N.J.
Series Streak: L-1
Series in Champaign: Tied, 1-1
Series in Minneapolis: Illinois trails, 0-3
Fahey vs. Rutgers: 0-1
Illinois...
...is coming off of a victory over No. 12 Minnesota
...hosting Rutgers for just the 3rd time in program history
...ranks 4th in the B1G and 15th in the nation for its 5.5 blocks per game
...ranks 23rd in the nation for its 30 defensive boards per game
...shooting 44.9-percent from the field to rank 32nd in the country
...junior Brandi Beasley leads the B1G with 5.4 assists per game
...senior Alex Wittinger ranks 4th in the country for her 40 blocks
...Alex Wittinger ranks sixth in the B1G for her 16.1 points per game
• WEDNESDAY'S GAME: UI returns to the State Farm Center on January 9, hosting the Scarlet Knights at 7 p.m. The game will mark Faith and Family Night, offering $3 tickets for all religious groups. The game will be streamed via BTN Plus, and fans can listen in on WDWS AM-1400.
• COMING UP: Illinois will then travel to Penn State for a weekend contest on January 12. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. CT inside the Bryce Jordan Center. Fans can watch the live stream on BTN Plus or listen in on WDWS AM-1400. UI returns to the State Farm Center on January 17 to host Nebraska at 7 p.m.
• LAST TIME OUT: Fighting Illini women's basketball earned its first Big Ten victory of the season on Sunday, defeating the 12th-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers in an afternoon thriller. The Orange and Blue used a strong second half to stay close to the Gophers, taking the lead with just over two minutes to play. Freshman Arieal Scott sealed the, 66-62, Illini victory with a late three-pointer, marking her third of the day. Junior Brandi Beasley led Illinois with 18 points and five steals, and Minnesota native, Alex Wittinger contributed a season-best six blocks in the victory.
• SCOUTING THE SCARLET KNIGHTS: With an 11-3 record on the season, the Scarlet Knights are receiving votes in the latest Associated Press Top 25. Rutgers is 3-0 in Big Ten play, coming off of a win over Penn State. The Scarlet Knights currently lead the Big Ten in scoring defense, holding opponents to just 52.1 points per game. Rutgers also leads the league with its 10.9 steals per game. The Scarlet Knights are averaging 63.9 points per game this season, led by Stasha Carey and Arella Guirantes who average 10.3 points per game for Rutgers. Caitlin Jenkins is leading the team on the glass with her 7.9 rebounds per game as well.
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 755 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 12th 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 .826 winning percentage ranks second only to Geno Auriemma (.884).
TAKING DOWN THE TOP 25
The Fighting Illini earned their first Big Ten victory of the season and the first of head coach Nancy Fahey's tenure at Illinois on Sunday, January 6, defeating 12th-ranked Minnesota, 66-62. The win marked Illinois' first victory over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 17 Iowa (73-61) on January 8, 2015. The win over Minnesota also marks Illinois' first victory over a top-15 opponent since a 77-71 win over No. 9 Kentucky on Nov. 27, 2014.
RACING AHEAD
Illinois earned a 32-point victory over the Murray State Racers on Dec. 11, which marked the largest margin of victory for Illinois this season and the widest since earning a 37-point win over Rutgers on January 7, 2017. Illinois has won three games by 20 or more points this season, and the Orange and Blue have earned four 20+-point victories under head coach Nancy Fahey in the last two seasons.
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 nine of 13 opponents overall.
The Orange and Blue are averaging 40.9 boards per game this season, a number that ranks sixth in the Big Ten. Maryland leads the league with its 46.7 rebounds per game. The Illini are also ranked among the top teams in the league for their defensive rebounding. The Illini rank third in the Big Ten for their 29.2 defensive boards per contest this season, tied with Nebraska.
WHAT A START
The Orange and Blue opened the 2018-19 campaign with an 8-3 start in nonconference play. UI won four consecutive games to start the season, and also went on a four-game winning streak inside the State Farm Center from Dec. 1 to Dec. 15. Illinois' .727 nonconference winning percentage this season marks the highest for an Illini squad since starting the 2014-15 campaign with a 9-5 nonconference record (.750).
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 955 career points, and needs just 45 points to reach the millennium mark. Beasley needs to average 3.0 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.
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 36 more blocks to take sole ownership of Illinois' career blocked shots record.
Wittinger has totaled 40 blocks this season, which ranks second in the Big Ten and 4th in the country. She is averaging 2.9 blocks per game this year, which comes in at 7th in the country.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Illini have been strong inside the State Farm this season, starting out with a 7-0 record on Lou Henson Court. The last time an Illinois squad started the year with a 7-0 record at the State Farm Center was the 2006-07 season. Illinois went 7-0 at home to start the 2015-16 campaign, but the first four games were played at Parkland College due to arena renovations.
The Illini are shooting 47-percent from the floor and outscoring opponents by more than 11 points per game inside State Farm Center this season. Alex Wittinger leads the Illini at home, averaging 17.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game this season while also shooting 58-percent from the floor. Ali Andrews is shooting 50-percent from the floor on Lou Henson Court, also knocking down 52-percent of her shots from distance. She's made 15 of her 19 treys at home.
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 306 assists so far in her career in the Orange and Blue, and ranks 13th all-time for that number.
Beasley is averaging 5.4 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 35th in the country for those numbers. Beasley's 2.14 assist turnover ratio ranks fifth in the league as well. Beasley has dished at least one assist in every game of her career thus far (76), and has passed out five or more dimes in 25 contests.
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.
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 second all-time with her 239 career blocked shots and will chase the No. 1 spot this season. Wittinger is 33 rejections away from the top spot and will need to average 2.2 blocks per game throughout the regular season to own the record.
Illinois Career Blocked Shots List
1. 271 Karisma Penn 2009-13
2. 239 Alex Wittinger 2016-
3. 231 Jenna Smith 2006-10
4. 163 Lacey Simpson 2005-10
5. 156 Kendra Gantt 1981-85
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 358 career offensive boards, and is at No. 7 on the all-time total rebounding list (840).
Wittinger is averaging 3.4 offensive boards per game this year, which puts her fifth in the Big Ten. Her 8.4 total rebounds per game rank seventh in the Big Ten.
BENCH POINTS
Illinois' bench has been strong in the nonconference, contributing 33-percent of Illinois' scoring. Freshman Arieal Scott leads the Orange and Blue when coming off the pine, averaging 10.1 points per game. She's among team leaders for her 19 three-pointers on the year as well. Graduate transfer Sarah Shewan is averaging 5.9 points per game off the bench and is among top players off the bench for her 3.2 boards per game. Freshman J-Naya Ephraim leads Illinois on the glass when coming off the pine, grabbing 3.4 rebounds per game.
The Illini bench has contributed 30 or more points in four games this season, led by a season-best 39 points against Alabama A&M.
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.
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 97 career treys made currently rank 10th all-time at Illinois.
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 Illini squad has played back-to-back overtime games. Including this season, Illinois has played two or more overtime games in nine seasons all-time.
The Illini continued to set new trends in December, taking on Indiana in their third overtime matchup of the season. The contest marks the first time in program history that the Orange and Blue have played three extra frames in one season.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
