PREVIEW
OPENING TIP: Illinois (3-11, 1-10 B1G) returns to State Farm Center, hosting No. 15/14-ranked Indiana (12-4, 10-2 B1G) on Sunday. Tipoff between the Illini and the Hoosiers is set for 2 p.m. CT. The game, which has been designated as Illinois' annual Play for Kay Pink Game, will be streamed live on Big Ten Network+. Mike Koon will call the action for the Illini on WDWS 1400 AM. Streaming audio and live stats are also available at FightingIllini.com.
ABOUT INDIANA: No. 15/14-ranked Indiana, the Big Ten preseason favorite as voted by both the league coaches and media, enters Sunday's game with a 12-4 record, including a 10-2 mark in conference play, to sit in third in the Big Ten Standings. The Hoosiers, following a 78-70 home loss vs. No. 14/11 Ohio State (Jan. 28), have won three straight vs. Michigan State (79-67), at Iowa (85-72), and vs. Penn State (90-65). Indiana's roster boasts a trio of starters that average double-figures scoring: sophomore F Mackenzie Holmes (18.7 ppg), junior G Grace Berger (15.6) and senior G Ali Patberg (13.0). Holmes and Berger also rank as the team's top rebounders, averaging 7.3 and 7.1 boards per game, respectively. The Hoosiers average 77.2 points per game, which ranks 25th nationally, while giving up an average of just 59.7 points per contest. Through games played Feb. 11, Indiana also ranks among the top-25 in the NCAA in several categories including No. 7 in turnovers per game (11.4), No. 7 in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.44), No. 15 in scoring margin (+17.5), No. 22 in defensive rebounds per game (29.7), No. 23 in field-goal percentage (.463).Â
SERIES VS. INDIANA:Â Sunday's matchup is the 75th in the series between the Illini and the Hoosiers. Indiana leads the all-time series, 44-30. The two programs have battled to a 17-17 all-time record in games played in Champaign. The Illini are looking to snap a 11-game winning streak in the series for Indiana, including a 79-56 setback on Dec. 31 at Assembly Hall. Illinois' last win in the series came Feb. 23, 2013, a 73-60 decision, in Champaign.
LAST TIME VS. INDIANA:Â Kennedi Myles tallied 15 points and Jada Peebles added 11, but the Illini were unable to overcome 25 turnovers in a 79-56 loss at Indiana on Dec. 31. The game was the first in 21 days for the Illini who were also playing with a shortened bench without Geovana Lopes, Aaliyah Nye, and Aaliyah McQueen. Jeanae Terry recorded a team-leading 11 rebounds in the contest, while senior F Lyric Robins mad her first-career and added seven points and two rebounds. Freshman F Erika Porter also saw her first collegiate, adding two points and two rebounds. The Hoosiers were led by 18 points from Mackenzie Holmes, 15 from Grace Berger, 14 from Nicole Cardano-Hillary, and 11 from Ali Patberg.
UP NEXT: The Fighting Illini open up a two-game road stretch on Wednesday, visiting conference-leading and No. 9/10-ranked Maryland. Tipoff between the Illini and the Terrapins (13-2, 10-1 B1G) Â - who host Nebraska on Sunday - is set for 1 p.m. ET/12 p.m. CT at UM's Xfinity Center. The game will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network. Mike Koon will call the action for the Illini on WDWS 1400 AM. Streaming audio and live stats are also available at FightingIllini.com.
FULL GAME NOTES (PDF)
