CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Fighting Illini women's basketball team dropped to 2-1 Thursday evening with a home loss against SIUE, 71-62, at State Farm Center.
The Illini, were led by sophomore guard Aaliyah Nye who tallied aa game-high 17 points, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. Junior guard De'Myla Brown added 11 points for the Illini, her second-consecutive game in double-figures scoring.
Sophomore forward Kendall Bostic pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds, and added a career-high four blocks, but was just 1-of-6 from the field to finish with four points.
The Illini jumped out to a 17-10 lead after the first quarter, and reached their largest lead, 19-10 after a Jada Peebles jumper to open the scoring in the second period. However, SIUE (1-2) responded by scoring 17 of the game's next 19 points, to gain an edge that would prove too much for the Illini to overcome.
After trailing by three, 29-26, at halftime, the Illini deficit reached as many as 13 points in the third quarter. Illinois mounted a furious comeback effort midway through the fourth period, cutting the Cougars' 63-50 lead to a single possession, 63-60, with 1:59 to go. But the Cougars combined to knock down six of eight free-throw attempts in the final 1:16 to seal the win.
SIUE was led by graduate transfer guard Gabby Nikitinaite who tallied 15 points. She was joined in double-figures by Ajulu Thatha and Mikayla Kinnard, who each tallied 14, and Allie Troeckler, who added 11.
Next up, Illinois closes out its season-opening, four-game home stand with a 2 p.m. matchup vs. the UC Riverside Highlanders (2-1) on Sunday at State Farm Center.
TEAM NOTES
- The Fighting Illini fell to 2-1 to open the season. The loss snaps a three-game home court win streak that dated back to last season.
- Illinois is now 4-1 all-time vs. SIUE.
- The Illinois offense was held under 70 points for the first time this season.
- Illinois recorded a season-most nine blocks vs. SIUE. The last time that Illinois tallied at least nine blocks in a game was Jan. 6, 2019 in a 66-62 win at No. 12 Minnesota, a span of 73 games.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Sophomore G Aaliyah Nye recorded a game-high 17 points. It is the second time in three games this season that Nye has led the Illini in scoring.
- Nye also added two more steals to bring her team-leading total to 12 through three games.
- Sophomore F Erika Porter recorded career-high totals in points (7) and rebounds (5).
- Sophomore F Kendall Bostic tallied a game-high 13 rebounds, her third consecutive game as the team's rebounding leader, to begin her Illini career.
- Bostic also tallied a career-high four blocks vs. the Cougars, and tied a personal best with two steals.
- Junior G De'Myla Brown reached double-figures scoring for the second straight game vs. SIUE, scoring 11 points to finish one off her career-high total set in the previous game vs. Miami (OH).
PRESS CONFERENCE
HIGHLIGHTS
