PREVIEW
Illinois (7-2) hosts Evansville (2-6) on Sunday in its final nonconference home game of the season. Sunday's game features the Holiday Hoops promotion, which includes a snow globe giveaway, pictures with Santa Claus and holiday ornament decorating in the Kids Zone in the Traditions Club balcony, and a teddy bear/toy drive.
The Illini are coming off a 75-72 win over Merrimack on Tuesday that went down to the wire. Freshman forward Kennedi Myles recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 23 points and 12 rebounds.
Redshirt junior guard Petra Holešínská leads the Orange and Blue in scoring at 14.6 points per game, thanks in part to a .455 three-point shooting percentage that ranks second in the Big Ten. Freshman forward Kennedi Myles is eighth nationally among freshmen in rebounding at 9.2 per game and has recorded three double-doubles in her young career.
Evansville enters State Farm Center having lost its last two games by a combined five points. Junior guard Lola Bracy is coming off a 25-point performance against IPFW in her season debut Friday night. Freshman guard/forward Abby Felt averages 15.8Â points per game and leads the Purple Aces in rebounding at 8.3 per game.
Sunday's game will be broadcast on BTN Plus, and fans can listen in on WDWS AM-1400.Â
UP NEXT
Illinois concludes its nonconference schedule at Missouri on Friday at noon.
NOTES
• Illinois looks to improve to 8-2 for the second straight season.
• Illinois is third in the Big Ten in three-point field goal percentage (.370).
• Illinois is fifth in the Big Ten in steals (9.9 per game).
• Freshman Kennedi Myles is second in the Big Ten and first among Big Ten freshmen in rebounding (9.2 rpg).
• Redshirt junior Petra Holešínská is second in the Big Ten with a .455 three-point shooting percentage. She is 8th in Illinois history with 115 career three-pointers made.
• Senior Brandi Beasley is fourth in Illinois history with 393 career assists.Â
• Senior Ali Andrews ranks seventh in Illinois history with 127 career three-pointers made.
• Illinois has three freshmen - Myles, Jeanae Terry, and Jada Peebles - contributing major minutes. Those three have combined for 37% of the team's points, 34% of rebounds, 45% of assists and 55% of blocks.
• Head coach Nancy Fahey ranks 11th among NCAA active head coaches in career victories (763).
PROMOTIONS: HOLIDAY HOOPS
Illinois' Holiday Hoops promotion features holiday fun for all ages. The first 500 fans will receive an Illini snow globe. The Traditions Club balcony will be home to the Kids Zone, where kids can take pictures with Santa and decorate holiday ornaments. Illinois will also be hosting a teddy bear/toy drive. Collection bins will be at both the main west and main east entrances. Fans who bring toys for the toy drive can receive $3 tickets purchased at the Ticket Office. Fans who bring teddy bears are encouraged to hang onto them until halftime, when the Teddy Bear Toss will take place.
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 in 2018-19, 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 2019-20 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.
