University of Illinois
Ohio State
Illini Heads to Ohio State For Sunday Showdown
January 18, 2020 | Women's Basketball
| Illinois (10-7, 1-5) at Ohio State (10-7, 3-3) | |
|---|---|
| When | Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020 | 1 pm CT |
| Where | Value City Arena | Columbus, Ohio |
| Tickets | Tickets |
| Watch | BTN Plus |
| Listen | Illini Sports Network | Listen |
| Live Stats | Live Stats |
| Illini Links | Game Notes (PDF) | Record Book | Stats |
| Ohio State | ohiostatebuckeyes.com |
| Shop | Online Store |
| Social Media | @IlliniWBB  | #Illini | @IlliniWBB  | Facebook  | YouTube  |
PREVIEW
Illinois continues its two-game road swing with a trip to Columbus, Ohio, to take on Ohio State on Sunday (Jan. 19) at 1 p.m. CT in Value City Arena.
The Illini own a 10-7 overall record on the season after finishing 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. Illinois battled against Purdue on Thursday (January 16) night, coming within seven at 70-63 in the fourth quarter, before falling 81-67 to the Boilermakers in Mackey Arena. Senior Brandi Beasley paced the team with 18 points – including 13 in the final period as she willed the Illini back into the game, while also adding team-highs of five rebounds and three assists on the night. Joining her in double figures were freshmen Jeanae Terry and Kennedi Myles with 10 points each, with Terry also notching five boards, three helpers and three steals and sophomore Mackenzie Blazek adding five rebounds and two steals in the contest.
Ohio State comes into Sunday's contest with a 10-7 and a 3-3 mark in conference play. The Buckeyes won two-straight before falling to Michigan State, 68-65, on Thursday. OSU is led by Dorka Juhasz with 12.8 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, while Kierstan Bell adds 10.1 points per game. As a team, OSU is shooting at a .441 percentage from the field and is averaging 17.2 turnovers per game, while also forcing 17.5 giveaways on defense.
Sunday's game will be broadcast on BTN Plus, and fans can listen in on WDWS AM-1400.
UP NEXT
Illinois returns home to State Farm Center to host No. 20/20 Maryland on Thursday (Jan. 23) at 7 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 tied for sixth in the Big Ten in steals (9.2 per game).
- Illinois is fifth in the Big Ten in three-point field goal percentage (.345) and sixth with 112 made three-pointers (6.6 threes per game).
- Redshirt junior Petra Holešínská ranks ninth in the conference with 14.8 points per game and sits second the Big Ten with a .448 three-point shooting percentage. She ranks sixth in Illinois history with 137 career three-pointers made, while senior Ali Andrews sits in eighth with 132 career treys.
- Holešínská also ranks fourth in the B1G with a .803 free-throw percentage.
- Freshman Kennedi Myles ranks second in the Big Ten and fourth among Division I freshmen in rebounding (8.9 rpg), while also sitting sixth with 2.1 steals per game.
- Senior Brandi Beasley is fourth in Illinois history with 410 career assists.
- 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, 44% of assists, 48% of steals and 50% of blocks.
- Head coach Nancy Fahey ranks 11th among NCAA active head coaches in career victories (766).
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.
