PREVIEW
Illinois returns home to State Farm Center to host Pride Night against No. 20/20 Maryland on Thursday (Jan. 23) at 7 p.m. CT.
The Illini own a 10-8 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. In its last outing, senior Ali Andrews and freshman Kennedi Myles led the Illinois women's basketball team in a 77-47 setback to Ohio State in Value City Arena on Sunday (Jan. 19). Andrews turned in a team-high 14 points after going 5-for-8 from the field, including four three-pointers to move her into seventh place all-time with 136 career treys. Myles notched her sixth double-double of the season with 12 points – on 6-of-14 shooting – and 11 rebounds to go along with three steals to tie the freshman record for double-doubles in a season. Senior Brandi Beasley added a season-high six assists.
No. 20/20 Maryland enters Thursday's game with a 14-4 overall record and is tied for third with a 5-2 mark in conference action after earning a 76-62 win over No.17/24 Indiana on Monday night in College Park. The Terrapins are third in the country in steals (13.4) and fourth in scoring margin (+25.3), while also ranking in the top 10 in the nation in turnover margin (+8.2) and in scoring (81.6). UMD has five players averaging double figures, led by 14.3 points per game from Kaila Charles, with Charles also leading the way with 8.0 rebounds per game. Shakira Austin ranks second in both categories with 11.8 points and 6.8 boards per contest.
Thursday's game will be broadcast on BTN Plus, and fans can listen in on WDWS AM-1400.
PROMOTIONS
PRIDE NIGHT | Giveaways: FREE koozies to first 200 fans
UP NEXT
Illinois has the week off before traveling to Piscataway, N.J., to take on Rutgers on Thursday, Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. CT in The RAC.
NOTES
- Redshirt junior Petra Holešínská ranks in a tie for 11th in the conference with 14.3 points per game and sits fifth the Big Ten with a .432 three-point shooting percentage. She ranks sixth in Illinois history with 138 career three-pointers made, while senior Ali Andrews sits in seventh with 136 career treys.
- Holešínská also ranks fourth in the B1G with a .794 free-throw percentage.
- Freshman Kennedi Myles ranks second in the Big Ten with 9.0 rebounds per game, fifth-most among all Division I true freshmen, while also sitting in a tie for fifth with 2.1 steals per game in the Big Ten.
- Myles' six double-doubles tie a Illinois freshman record for double-doubles in a season and rank sixth-most in the country by a rookie.
- Senior Brandi Beasley is fourth in Illinois history with 416 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, 36% of rebounds, 42% of assists, 48% of steals and 48% of blocks.
- Illinois is seventh in the Big Ten in steals (8.9 per game).
- Illinois is tied for fifth in the Big Ten in three-point field goal percentage (.340) and seventh with 119 made three-pointers (6.6 threes per game).
- Illinois is tied for seventh in the conference with a +1.1 turnover margin.
- The Illini finished the nonconference with a 9-2 record, the best start to a season since 2006-07.
- Head coach Nancy Fahey ranks 12th 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.
