CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois pulled away late in a 71-52 win over Presbyterian on Saturday at State Farm Center. The Fighting Illini (6-1) scored 18 of the game's final 25 points - including a 16-0 run - in the last of seven straight home games to begin the 2019-20 season.
Illinois' 6-1 start ties its best record through seven games since starting the 1981-82 season with 10 straight wins.
"It was such a team feeling today," head coach Nancy Fahey said. "We shared a ton of minutes. People went in and out. Nobody was upset. They just cared about winning. That's really a positive, because you can feel the connectivity that the kids have with each other, and they can be happy with each other. That's a big positive."
Five Illini scored in double figures Saturday. Freshman Kennedi Myles recorded her third career double-double, scoring 12 points and pulling down 12 rebounds. Senior Ali Andrews made a push for a double-double of her own with 12 points and eight boards. Redshirt junior Petra Holešínská added 12 points of her own, making four of eight three-point shots. Freshman Jada Peebles and senior Courtney Joens each contributed 10 points.
Presbyterian (3-4) led for a total of 48 seconds and never later than the 9:01 mark in the second quarter.
The Illini take to the road for their first game away from State Farm Center on Thursday when they travel to North Carolina. The 5 p.m. CT tip will be televised nationally on ACC Network
Highlights
Team Notes
- Saturday's contest was the first-ever meeting between Illinois and Presbyterian.
- Illinois improved to 6-1 on the season, tying its best record through seven games since starting the 1981-82 season with 10 straight wins.
- Saturday's game was the third of the year in which Illinois had at least four players score in double figures and the first in which five scored at least 10 points since November 24, 2018 vs. Sacramento State.
- The Illini set a new season-high with 22 assists.
Individual Notes
- With six assists Saturday, Brandi Beasley moved up to fifth in the Illinois record books in career dimes with 389, two away from fourth.
- Redshirt junior Petra Holešínská finished in double-digit scoring figures for the sixth time in seven games, tallying 12 points, all of which behind four three-point field goals.
- Myles became the second Big Ten player to record her third double-double of the season, joining Minnesota's Taiye Bello, who has four.
- Myles tied a season-high with six made-field goals.
- Senior Ali Andrews scored in double-figures for the fifth time this season, finishing with 12 points.
- Senior Courtney Joens recorded a season-high 10 points.
Press Conference
