CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini women's basketball team (3-1) turned in an impressive, all-around team effort on Sunday afternoon in an 86-82 victory over the visiting UC Riverside Highlanders (2-2) at State Farm Center.
Five Illini reached double-figures in scoring, led by junior guard Jada Peebles who tallied a season-high 17 points. Peebles was joined by starting backcourt mate Aaliyah Nye who notched 15 points by knocking down a career-most five three-pointers on just six attempts.
However, it was a stellar offensive effort by the Illini reserves that helped the Orange and Blue hold off UCR. Graduate guard Sara Anastasieska filled up the stat sheet with 16 points, while tying for the team lead with six rebounds, and dishing out a team-high five assists, all season-high totals. Redshirt senior C Eva Rubin also turned in her best offensive performance of the year with a perfect 5-for-5 performance from the floor to tally 11 points.
Freshman guard Adalia McKenzie had a breakout performance, tallying 15 points, while matching Anastasieska and Nye for the team lead with six rebounds. McKenzie also dished out a pair of assists, her first as an Illini.
The Illini finished with a 44-22 edge in bench scoring, while the team recorded a season-most 19 assists from seven different players. The ball movement, and the ability to capitalize on a 24-8 edge in fast-break points, allowed the Illini to shoot a season-best 54.5 percent from the field overall, and 47.4 percent (9-for-19) from three-point range.
Next up, Illinois travels to Daytona, Fla., to compete in the Daytona Beach Invitational with matchups scheduled against Dayton (Friday) and Middle Tennessee (Saturday)..
TEAM NOTES
- The Fighting Illini improved to 3-1 to open the season looking ahead to the team's first road trip of the year next week to compete in the Daytona Beach Invitational.
- Illinois is now 1-0 all-time vs. UC Riverside. Sunday's matchup marked the first in the series between Illinois and the Highlanders.
- The Illini offense tallied a season-most 86 points in Sunday's win over UC Riverside. The 86 points mark the most for the Illini since a 96-66 win over Chicago State to open the 2019-20 season, a span of 55 games.
- The Illini offense also recorded season-high totals for points in a half (43) in both halves Sunday, and their 25 points in the second and fourth quarters marked the most in a single period this year.
- Illinois recorded a season-most 19 assists on 30 made field goals with seven different players recording at least one assist and three finishing with at least four helpers.
- Illinois' 44 bench points on Sunday also marked a season-most, eclipsing the 27 points scored by non-starters in the season-opening win over NC Central.
- The Illini connected on a season-most nine three-pointers on 19 attempts vs. UCR, marking a season-best percentage (.474) from beyond the arc.
- Overall, the Illini offense connected on 30-of-55 field goal attempts, for a season-best field-goal percentage of 54.5 percent.
- After scoring just 22 fast-break points through three games, the Illini offense erupted for 24 fast-break points vs. UC Riverside.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Freshman G Adalia McKenzie had a breakout game on Sunday, recording career highs in points (15) and rebounds (6), while adding a pair of assists, the first of her Illini career.
- Sophomore G Aaliyah Nye connected on five of her six attempts from three-point range, setting a new career high for three-pointers made in a game. Nye finished with 15 points, reaching double-figures scoring for the third time in four games to open the season.
- Sara Anastasieska posted 16 points, tied for the team lead with six rebounds, and dished out a team-high five assists, all season highs for the graduate transfer guard.
- Junior G Jada Peebles poured in a season-high 17 points and matched her season bests with four rebounds and four assists.
- Redshirt-senior C Eva Rubin was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field on Sunday, finishing with a season-high 11 points.
- Sophomore C Erika Porter returned to the starting lineup on Sunday and posted a career-high three blocked shots.
PRESS CONFERENCE
HIGHLIGHTS
