CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – A mid-game surge pushed the Fighting Illini women's basketball team past Bryant in a 69-55 win Sunday at State Farm Center. Redshirt junior Petra Holešínská led the Illini with 17 points on 5-for-9 shooting.
Illinois (5-1) started the game on a 15-2 run, highlighted by four points from senior Ali Andrews. Bryant (1-4) cut the lead to 28-26 in the second quarter, but a 19-0 run that stretched past halftime gave the Illini a cushion.
"I think we've been trying to mix it up a little bit and be able to do different things," head coach Nancy Fahey said. "Sometimes we're undersized, so we feel like we can try to throw teams off a little bit. I was pleased with the effort."
Holešínská was the Orange and Blue's leading scorer for the fourth straight game and fifth time in six games. She and senior Courtney Joens led Illinois with six rebounds each.
Illinois next takes the court on Saturday, when it hosts Presbyterian at 7:00 p.m. CT at State Farm Center.
Notes
- Illinois is off to its best start under third-year head coach Nancy Fahey.
- Illinois improves to 1-0 all-time against Bryant.
- The Illini's 14 steals tied a season high.
- Illinois has now outscored opponents 115-48 in the first quarter this season.
- The Illini never trailed Sunday.
- Redshirt junior Petra Holešínská scored 11 of her game-high 17 points in the second quarter.
- Senior Brandi Beasley moved up to 21st in the program's career scoring list with a total of 1,169
- Holešinská's six rebounds tied a season-high.
- Makenzie Blazek scored a season-high five points.
- J-Naya Ephraim recorded a season-high three steals.
Highlights
