PREVIEW
Opening Tip
The Fighting Illini women's basketball program returns to the court for the third game of a four-game, season-opening home stand. The Illini (2-0) host the SIUE Cougars (0-2) at State Farm Center with tipoff set for 7 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed live on B1G+ with George Khouri (play-by-play), Spencer Nelson (analyst), and Andre Thomas (sideline). Mike Koon will call the action for the Illini on the Busey Bank Illini Sports Network (1400 AM / 93.9 FM). Streaming audio and live stats are also available at FightingIllini.com.
About SIUE
SIUE enters Thursday's matchup - their third of four consecutive road games to open the 2021-22 season - in search of the team's first win.
» The Cougars opened the year with a 98-62 loss at Kansas on Nov. 10 and an 89-58 loss at Memphis on Nov. 14.
» Redshirt senior G Gabby Nikitinaite ranks as the team's leading scorer through two games at 11.5 ppg. Junior F Ajulu Thatha also averages double-figures scoring at 10.0 ppg.
» Junior G Mikayla Kinnard, the team's third-leading scorer at 9.5 ppg, also leads the team in rebounding (5.5 rpg), just ahead of Thatha (5.0 rpg).
Series vs. SIUE
Sunday's matchup marks the fifth in the series between the Fighting Illini and the Cougars.
» Illinois leads the overall series, 4-0.
» Illinois is 1-0 in games played in Champaign, a 74-57 Illini win in 2018-19.
» Each of the three previous matchups were neutral-site victories for the Illini in 1977 (77-30) and 1978 (74-40) in Normal, Ill., and 1979 (98-24) in Carbondale, Ill.
Up Next
The Fighting Illini close their season-opening four-game home stand on Sunday, welcoming UC Riverside to State Farm Center. Tipoff between the Fighting Illini and the Highlanders is set for 2 p.m. CT.
» UC Riverside is 2-0 to start the season.
» The Highlanders opened the year with a 62-59 home loss to California Baptist, before bouncing back with a 75-67 win at Pacific, and a 79-36 win over California Lutheran.
FOLLOW THE ILLINI
For more Fighting Illini women's basketball news, stay tuned to FightingIllini.com and follow @IlliniWBB on social media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook.
FULL GAME NOTES (PDF)
