PREVIEW
The Illinois women's basketball team (9-3, 0-1) continues Big Ten play with its first road trip of the conference slate, traveling to Iowa City, Iowa, to take on Iowa on New Years Eve (December 31) at 2 p.m. CT in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
The Illini finished off the nonconference portion of their schedule with a 9-2 record, marking the best 11-game start for Illinois since the 2006-07 season, before falling to Northwestern, 77-50, in their conference opener on Saturday (December 28). Senior forward Ali Andrews paced UI with a team-high 15 points on 7-of-13 shooting, with redshirt-junior guard Petra Holešínská adding nine points and five rebounds. Freshman Kennedi Myles grabbed a team-high six rebounds, while Andrews also notched five boards. Senior Brandi Beasley and freshman Jeanae Terry each handed out four assists against the Wildcats, while freshman Jada Peebles tallied three steals for the Illini.
Holešínská leads Illinois in scoring at 15.1 points per game, thanks in part to a .463 three-point shooting percentage that ranks in a tie second in the Big Ten. Myles is third nationally among freshmen in rebounding at 10.2 per game and has recorded five double-doubles in her young career.
Iowa owns a 9-3 overall record and took a four-game winning streak into conference play before suffering a 78-69 loss to Nebraska last Saturday in the league opener in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Hawkeyes have three players averaging 15 points per game in senior Kathleen Doyle (15.8), sophomore Monika Czinano (15.2) and senior Makenzie Meyer (15.0), with senior Amanda Ollinger leading the way on the boards with 8.4 rebounds per game. As a team, the Hawkeyes are averaging 78.8 points per game on a .467 shooting percentage, while forcing 16.2 turnovers per game.
Tuesday's game will be broadcast on BTN Plus, and fans can listen in on WDWS AM-1400.
UP NEXT
Illinois continues its two-game road swing with a trip to Bloomington, Ind., to take on Indiana on Monday (January 6) at 6 p.m. CT.
NOTES
- The Illini finished the nonconference with a 9-2 record, the best start to a season since 2006-07.
- Illinois is third in the Big Ten in steals (10.5 per game).
- Illinois is fifth in the Big Ten in three-point field goal percentage (.351) and 86 made three-pointers (7.2 threes per game).
- Freshman Kennedi Myles leads the Big Ten and third among Division I freshmen in rebounding (10.2 rpg), while also sitting in a tie for third with 2.45 steals per game.
- Redshirt junior Petra Holešínská ranks eighth in the conference with 15.1 points per game and is tied for second in the Big Ten with a .463 three-point shooting percentage. She is 8th in Illinois history with 127 career three-pointers made.
- Holešínská also ranks in a tie for fourth in the B1G with a .811 free-throw percentage.
- Senior Brandi Beasley is fourth in Illinois history with 404 career assists.
- Senior Ali Andrews ranks seventh in Illinois history with 130 career three-pointers made.
- Illinois has three freshmen - Myles, Jeanae Terry, and Jada Peebles - contributing major minutes. Those three have combined for 33% of the team's points, 35% of rebounds, 45% of assists and 59% of blocks.
- Head coach Nancy Fahey ranks 11th among NCAA active head coaches in career victories (765).
THE 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.
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.
