PREVIEW
OPENING TIP: Illinois (3-15, 1-14 B1G) returns home to State Farm Center to host (RV/25) Northwestern (12-5, 10-5 B1G) on Wednesday evening. Tipoff between the Illini and the Wildcats is set for 6 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed live on Big Ten Network+ with Scott Sudikoff (play-by-play) and Scott Beatty (analyst). 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 NORTHWESTERN: Northwestern enters Wednesday's game with a 12-5 overall record, including 10-5 mark in Big Ten play. The Wildcats are 1-2 in their last three games with a 54-70 home loss to Rutgers (Feb. 11), a 71-64 setback to Nebraska (Feb. 17) in Evanston, and a 67-54 home win over Wisconsin (Feb. 20). Junior G Veronica Burton paces the Wildcats' offensive attack at 16.5 points per game. Burton is one of three NU players averaging double-figures scoring alongside senior G Lindsay Pulliam (16.2 ppg) and junior G/F Sydney Wood (13.1 ppg). Junior F Courtney Shaw is the team's top rebounder at 7.1 boards per contest, just ahead of Wood (5.3 rpg). The Wildcats average 71.2 points per game, while holding opponents to 61.9 per contest. Northwestern ranks among the NCAA top-10 in several statistical categories, including No. 1 turnover margin (+10.29), No. 5 in steals per game (12.6), No. 7 in assist-to-tunover ratio (1.41), No. 8 in turnovers per game (11.5), and No. 8 in turnovers forced per game (21.76).Â
SERIES VS. NORTHWESTERN:Â Wednesday's matchup is the 81st in the series between the Illini and the Wildcats. Northwestern leads the all-time series, 46-34, including a slim 20-18 advantage in games played in Champaign. The Illini are looking to snap an 11-game losing streak in the series. Illinois' last win in the series came Jan. 15, 2014, a 76-74 win in Evanston. Illinois' last home win in the series came Feb. 20, 2012 (69-57), with NU winning the last six matchups in Champaign.
LAST TIME VS. NORTHWESTERN: Illinois fell to No. 21 Northwestern, 73-54, on Jan. 21 at Welsh-Ryan Arena, despite strong showings from sophomores Kennedi Myles and Jeanae Terry. The duo posted a pair of double-digit scoring games – 16 point for Myles and 11 for Terry – and each pulled down a team-leading eight rebounds. But first-half scoring struggles plagued the Illini, who ultimately stormed back into the game with 9-0 mid-third-quarter scoring. The run pulled the Illini to within 39-30 before the Wildcats pulled away for the win. Lindsey Pulliam (28 points), Veronica Burton (15) and Sydney Woods (10) all scored in double-figures for the Wildcats.
UP NEXT: The Fighting Illini make the short trek to West Lafayette, Ind., for their final road contest of the season at Purdue on Sunday. Tipoff between the Illini and the Boilermakers (6-13, 3-12 B1G) - who host No. 9 Maryland on Thursday - is set for 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT at Mackey Arena. The 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.
FULL GAME NOTES (PDF)
