Peebles, Myles lead Fighting Illini Over Omaha

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini women's basketball team pulled out a tight win, 53-50, over the Omaha Mavericks on Sunday afternoon at State Farm Center, behind double-digit scoring performances from Jada Peebles, Kennedi Myles, and Eva Rubin.

Peebles led the Illini (2-1) with 15 points. The sophomore guard shot 3-for-6 from three-point range, before sealing the win with a pair of free throws with just four seconds left in the contest. Myles recorded her second straight double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds. Rubin added 11 points, setting a new career high. 

Omaha (1-2) was led by senior Claire Killian who tallied 13 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Ella Ogier and junior Josie Filer each added 10 points for the Mavericks.  

The Illini led 24-22 at halftime, before jumping out to a 10-point lead by outscoring the Mavericks 19-11 in the third quarter. 

An 8-2 run allowed Omaha to claw back and cut the lead down to one, 49-48, with 3:22 left in the game. Peebles answered with a jumper in the lane at the 2:09 mark give the Illini a 51-48. And following a bucket from the Mavericks' Sara Schmitt, Peebles was fouled on the Illini's final possession and drained both free throws to seal the win.

STAT OF THE GAME

• After staking to a 24-22 halftime lead, the Fighting Illini outscored the Mavericks 19-11 in the third quarter to push the lead to double-digits. The strong start to the second half continued a trend for the Illini in 2020-21. Through three games, Illinois has outscored opponents in the third quarter by a combined 60-36, an average of eight points per contest.  

TEAM NOTES

• The Illini led for more than 32 minutes in the game, out-rebounded Omaha 45-28 and won the turnover battle 11-13. Illinois also recorded the advantage over Omaha in second-chance points (14-6) and fast-break points (6-2).
• Five different players scored the first five field goals to open the game for the Illini, with contributions from Kennedi Myles, Eva Rubin, J-Naya Ephraim, Jada Peebles and Aaliyah Nye in the opening minutes of the game. 
• Defensively, the Illini held the Mavericks without a field goal for a stretch of 6:27 between the 1:46 mark of the first quarter, and the 5:19 mark of the second period
• Illinois improves to 23-5 when hosting non-conference opponents at State Farm Center under head coach Nancy Fahey.  

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• Sophomore F Kennedi Myles recorded her second-consecutive double-double, and 10th of her career. Myles 13 points marks the 16th time she has scored in double-figures with the Orange and Blue. With a team leading and season-high 14 rebounds, she now has recorded 12 games as an Illini with 10 or more rebounds.
• Sophomore G Jada Peebles led Illinois with 15 points to record her seventh double-digit scoring game of her career. Peebles reached double-figures scoring for the second consecutive game, marking the second time in her career that she has poured in 10-plus points in back-to-back games. 
• Redshirt-junior C Eva Rubin scored a career-high 11 points, eclipsing her previous high set during her time at Arizona State.

UP NEXT
The Illini travel to Lincoln, Nebraska, to open Big Ten play against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, on Thursday, Dec. 10 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network. Mike Koon will call the action for the Illini on WDWS 1400-AM. Streaming audio (FightingIllini.com) and live stats (Huskers.com) will also be available.