CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois State went on a 12-0 run across the second and third quarters Saturday to pull away and defeat Illinois 74-58 at State Farm Center.
The Illini (3-1) led 12-11 after the first quarter, but after the two teams reached a 22-22 tie, the Redbirds (2-1) distanced themselves for good. A 14-6 run over the first five-plus minutes of the fourth quarter – featuring six points from Petra Holešínská – brought the Illini to within 10, but that was as close as the Orange and Blue would come.
"We did not at any point underestimate these guys," head coach Nancy Fahey said. "We knew they were a really good team. They play so hard, and they're very well-coached. I thought we had a great run, had a good-look three that got it down to 10… To me the biggest thing was the inside play. I thought that was the difference-maker, their rebounding and their ability to dominate the inside."
Holešínská led the Illini with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the floor. Kennedi Myles added 11, including five-of-six from the free throw line. The Redbirds outrebounded Illinois 40-17.
The Illini return to action when they take on Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 7 p.m. Thursday at State Farm Center.
Highlights
Team Notes
- The Illini are now 21-16 all-time against Illinois State.
- Illinois honored Steven Douglas, the first head coach in program history, at halftime as part of the UI alumni game
Individual Notes:
- Redshirt junior Petra Holešínská led the Illini with 16 points
- Freshman forward Kennedi Myles was second on the team totaling 11 points
- Freshman Jeanae Terry grabbed five rebounds to lead the team. Four of her five rebounds were offensive
- Freshman Jada Peebles tallied four steals, tying her season-high
