EAST LANSING, Mich. – Despite leading by as many as eight points early in the third quarter, the Illinois women's basketball team was unable to hold off a strong, second-half offensive surge by host Michigan State en route to a 75-60 setback in the team's Big Ten Conference opener Thursday night at the Breslin Center.
Junior guard Jada Peebles, who recorded 10 points to finish as one of three players in double-figures scoring for the Illini (4-5, 0-1 B1G), knocked down her second triple of the game at the 7:49 mark of the third quarter to give the Illini their biggest lead of the game, 39-31. But Michigan State (7-4, 1-1 B1G) answered with a 9-0 run of their own to regain the advantage, 40-39, at the 5:47 mark of the period.
That MSU run keyed a 26-point quarter, the second-largest point total surrendered by the Illini in a single quarter this season. Illinois headed into the fourth quarter trailing, 52-51. However, MSU's hot hand continued into the fourth period, and the Illini connected on just four field goals in the period as MSU pulled away for the come-from-behind win.
Freshman guard Adalia McKenzie led the Illini in scoring with 14 points, one off her career-high set earlier this season vs. UC Riverside. Sophomore guard Aaliyah Nye, an East Lansing native and product of nearby East Lansing High School, tallied 13 points including 3-of-7 shooting from three-point range.
Sophomore forward Kendall Bostic, the Big Ten's leading rebounder entering the game, pulled down a game-high eight boards against her former team.
Four Spartans scored in double-figures, led by the guard duo of Matilda Ekh (20 points) and Nia Clouden (17). Clouden, who averages more than 19 points per game, was held without a field goal in the first half, scoring 13 of her 17 in the second half. Likewise Ekh notched 17 points after the intermission.
The Fighting Illini return home to State Farm Center for a Sunday matchup vs. the Butler Bulldogs. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. CT.
TEAM NOTES
- The Fighting Illini move to 4-5 overall and 0-1 in the Big Ten.
- The Illini are now 28-46 all-time vs. Michigan State.
- Illinois is 14-26 in Big Ten openers entering their 40th season of conference play.
- Illinois was outscored 26-17 in the third quarter, the second-most points surrendered by the Illini in a single quarter this season.
- The Illini shot a season-best 50 percent (8-of-16) from three-point range.
- Illinois outrebounded the Spartans 35-28. The +7 rebound margin marks a season-best for the Illini.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Sophomore G Aaliyah Nye, an East Lansing native and graduate of East Lansing High School, tallied 13 points. Nye reached double-figures scoring for the sixth time this season and the 13th time in her first 27-career games as an Illini.
- Nye knocked down three three-pointers, her team-leading seventh game this season with multiple treys.
- Freshman G Adalia McKenzie scored 14 points to reach double-figures for the third time in just her first nine collegiate games. She finished one point shy of her career-high total set earlier this season vs. UC Riverside.
- Junior G Jada Peebles, the Illini's leading scorer from last season, tallied 10 points to reach double-figures scoring for the third-consecutive game, and the fourth time overall this season. Peebles was 2-for-3 from three-point range vs. the Spartans.
- Sophomore F Kendall Bostic, the Big Ten's leading rebounder, pulled down a game-high eight rebounds against her former team.
- Bostic has led the Illini in rebounding in five consecutive games, and eight of nine games overall this season.
HIGHLIGHTS
