Opening Tip
Fighting Illini women's basketball is set to open Big Ten play this week, traveling to East Lansing, Mich., for a showdown with the Michigan State Spartans at the Breslin Center.
» Tipoff between the Fighting Illini (4-4, 0-0 B1G) and the Spartans (6-4, 0-1 B1G) is set for 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT.
» The game will be streamed live on B1G+ with Kevin McCormick (play-by-play), Zach Surdenik (analyst), and Katlyn Holtvluwer (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 is also available at FightingIllini.com.
About the Illini
Illinois enters Thursday's Big Ten Conference opener at Michigan State with an overall record of 4-4 and are looking for their first win of the season away from State Farm Center.
» The Illini are 4-2 at home, and are coming off of a 71-57 victory over Eastern Kentucky at State Farm Center on Sunday.
» The team is 0-2 away from State Farm Center - both neutral site losses to Dayton and Middle Tennessee at the Daytona Beach Invitational - heading into Thursday's road matchup to open Big Ten Play.
» Offensively, the new-look Illini have opened the season with a much-improved scoring average from last season. Through eight games, the Illini are averaging 65.9 points per game, an improvement of 6.3 points per game over last year's season average of 59.6 ppg.
» Leading scorer, sophomore G Aaliyah Nye, is averaging 13.3 ppg, an improvement of more than 5 points per game from her freshman campaign (8.1 ppg).
» Behind Nye, the Illini's offensive attack has been balanced with eight other players tallying at least one double-digit scoring game so far this season, and four others - Jada Peebles (9.5), De'Myla Brown (8.3), Jayla Oden (7.5), and Kendall Bostic (7.0) - entering action at MSU averaging better than 7.0 ppg.
» Sophomore F Kendall Bostic ranks as the top rebounder in the conference, averaging 11.5 rebounds per game, which ranks 13th nationally.
About Michigan State
Michigan State comes into Thursday's game with a 6-4 overall record. The Spartans opened Big Ten play Sunday with am 88-61 road loss at No. 9/11 Iowa.
» MSU is 5-1 at home, overall, but suffered their first loss at Breslin Center vs. No. 24/25 Notre Dame (76-71) in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
» MSU's other home victories include wins over Morehead State (93-31), Niagra (89-65), Valparaiso (73-62), Bryant (100-60) and Marshall (85-75).
» Senior G Nia Clouden, a 2021 first-team All-Big Ten selection, leads the Spartans in scoring at 19.4 points per game, fourth in the Big Ten and 33rd nationally. Clouden also ranks among the national leaders in assists at 5.2 per game - fifth in the B1G and 37th in the nation.
» Junior F Taiyier Parks leads the MSU roster in rebounding at 5.2 boards per contest.
Series vs. Michigan State
Thursday's matchup at Michigan State marks the 74th in the series between the Illini and the Spartans.
» Michigan State leads the all-time series, 45-28,
» The Spartans hold a 24-10 advantage in games played in East Lansing.
» The Illini are looking to snap a nine-game MSU win streak in the series. The last Illini win the series was Jan. 23, 2014, a 61-51 victory at the Breslin Center.
Last Time vs. The Spartans
The Fighting Illini faced Michigan State just once in 2020-21 with the Spartans coming away with an 81-60 win at the Breslin Center on Feb. 4, 2021.
» Jada Peebles led the Illini offense with 17 points in the matchup vs. the Spartans, while then-freshman Aaliyah Nye, who signed with the Illini out of East Lansing High School, knocked down a trio of three-pointers to finish with nine points in her first collegiate game in her hometown.
Up Next
The Fighting Illini begin a three-game stretch to close out the non-conference schedule, starting with a home matchup against Butler.
» Tipoff between the Illini and the Bulldogs is set for 7 p.m. CT with a live stream available on Big Ten+.
» Butler is 0-8 to start the 2021-22 season, and is schedule to host Denver on Friday evening before making the trip to State Farm Center on Sunday.
Big Ten Openers
Illinois opens its 40th season of Big Ten women's basketball on Thursday. The Illini are 14-25 all-time in conference openers, and are looking to snap a four-game skid in league openers.
» Illinois last began Big Ten Play 1-0 after a 70-65 home win over Iowa to open the 2016-17 Big Ten schedule.
» The Illini will begin conference play on the road for the second straight season, after opening last year at Nebraska in mid-December - years - 2017-18 at Maryland (L, 100-65) - and are in search of their first conference-opening road win since 2007-08 at Northwestern (W, 58-44).
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