PREVIEW
The Illinois women's basketball team returns to State Farm Center for a two-game homestand as it hosts Rutgers on Thursday (Jan. 9) night at 7 p.m. CT.
The Illini own a 9-5 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 their last outing, the Illini dropped an 83-42 decision to No. 12 Indiana on Monday (Jan. 6) in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall as senior Brandi Beasley turned in a team-high 11 points on a 4-for-10 effort that included two three-pointers. Freshman Kennedi Myles led the UI effort on the boards with six rebounds, with sophomore Mackenzie Blazek grabbing five boards on the night.
Redshirt-junior Petra Holešínská leads Illinois in scoring at 14.1 points per game, thanks in part to a .471 three-point shooting percentage that leads the Big Ten. Myles ranks second in the Big Ten and is fourth nationally among freshmen in rebounding at 9.5 per game and has recorded five double-doubles in her young career.
Rutgers sits at 12-2 on the season and is 2-1 in the Big Ten after a conference-opening win over Wisconsin (64-61) on Dec. 28, before falling to then-No. 14 Indiana (66-56) on New Years Eve. The Scarlet Knights are coming off of a 59-53 victory at Purdue on Sunday. The Knights have three players registering double-digit points per game, with redshirt-junior Arella Guirantes (19.8 ppg) leading the way in scoring, while also pacing RU with 7.2 rebounds per game. Junior Tekia Mack (13.6) and grad student Khadaizha Sanders (10.1) join the redshirt-junior with double figure scoring per game, with Sanders averaging 4.7 assists per game. As a team, the Knights are averaging 69.6 points per game on a .440 shooting percentage, but are turning over the ball 15.4 times per game.
Thursday's game will be broadcast on BTN Plus, and fans can listen in on WDWS AM-1400.
UP NEXT
Illinois continues its two-game homestand with a Sunday (Jan. 12) showdown against Minnesota on Big Ten Network at 2 p.m. CT in State Farm Center.
NOTES
- The Illini finished the nonconference with a 9-2 record, the best start to a season since 2006-07.
- Illinois is fifth in the Big Ten in steals (9.9 per game).
- Illinois is fourth in the Big Ten in three-point field goal percentage (.357) and fifth with 97 made three-pointers (6.9 threes per game).
- Freshman Kennedi Myles ranks second in the Big Ten and fourth among Division I freshmen in rebounding (9.5 rpg), while also sitting in a tie for fifth with 2.2 steals per game.
- Redshirt junior Petra Holešínská ranks 11th in the conference with 14.1 points per game and leads the Big Ten with a .471 three-point shooting percentage. She ranks seventh in Illinois history with 131 career three-pointers made, while senior Ali Andrews sits in eighth with 130 career treys.
- Holešínská also ranks second in the B1G with a .821 free-throw percentage.
- Senior Brandi Beasley is fourth in Illinois history with 406 career assists.
- Illinois has three freshmen - Myles, Jeanae Terry, and Jada Peebles - contributing major minutes. Those three have combined for 34% of the team's points, 36% of rebounds, 44% of assists and 53% 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.
