PREVIEW
Illinois hosts another weekend contest on Saturday, welcoming Illinois State to State Farm Center for a 2 p.m. CT contest. The game will mark Illinois' alumni game with women's basketball alumni in Champaign-Urbana.
Redshirt junior Petra Holešínská and freshman Jada Peebles led Illinois to a 76-62 win over Austin Peay in their last time out to get the Illini to 3-0. Holešínská posted 19 points to lead all scorers, while Peebles added 18 of her own on 70-percent shooting.Â
Illinois State (1-1) is coming off of a 58-41 loss to Marquette. Tete Maggett leads the Redbirds with 18.5 points per game. Champaign native Lexi Wallen is also among Redbird scoring leaders for her 11.5 points per game. Illinois State is averaging 64.0 points per game as a team and forcing 16 opponent turnovers per contest.Â
Saturday's game will be streamed via BTN Plus, and fans can listen in on WDWS AM-1400. Â
UP NEXT
Illinois will be back in action on Thursday, hosting Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 7 p.m. CT. Tickets for Thursday's game are available for as low as $5. The game will be streamed via BTN Plus, and fans can listen in on WDWS AM-1400.Â
NOTES
• Illinois hosts Illinois State for the first time since 2012.
• Illinois is 21-15 all-time against Illinois State, including 9-6 in Champaign.Â
• Illinois is third in the Big Ten in shooting (39.1%).
• Illinois is second in the Big Ten in offensive rebounding (15.0 per game).
• Freshman Kennedi Myles is leading the Big Ten in rebounding (10.3 rpg) and ranks second in offensive rebounds per game (4.3).
• Redshirt junior Petra Holesinska is third in the Big Ten with eight three-pointers made. She ranks 11th in Illinois history with 92 career three-pointers made.Â
• Senior Brandi Beasley, who average 11.6 poisonings and 4.9 assists last season, has missed the first three games. She ranks sixth in Illinois history with 377 career assists.Â
• Senior Ali Andrews ranks seventh in Illinois history with 121 career three-pointers made.
• Illinois has four newcomers: Taylor Edwards, Kennedi Myles, Jeanae Terry and Jada Peebles. The three freshmen- Myles, Terry, and Peebles - are all contributing major minutes.Â
• Head coach Nancy Fahey ranks 11th among NCAA active head coaches in career victories (758).
THEÂ FAHEY ERA CONTINUES
The Illini are in their third 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).
In her second season at the helm of the Illini, Fahey 's squad opened the year with a 7-0 record on Lou Henson Court for the first time since the 2006-07 season. The Orange and Blue opened the 2018-19 campaign with an 8-3 start in nonconference play, marking a .727 nonconference winning percentage. That number is the highest for an Illini squad since starting the 2014-15 campaign with a 9-5 nonconference record (.750). Fahey's squad has improved statistically in several categories under her leadership. The Orange and Blue averaged seven more points per game last season than in 2017-18, and improved their field goal percentage by more than four percent.Â
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Beginning last 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.
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 the combined women's basketball/volleyball season ticket is $80. Reserved season tickets in sections 101 and 109-113 are also available for $75. Floor seating, located behind the team benches (sections 10-12) is available for just $55 each. A limited number of courtside seats still remain for $100 each.
