IOWA CITY, Iowa. – The Fighting Illini women's basketball team was held to a season-low five points in the opening quarter on Sunday, and despite settling into an offensive rhythm later in the game, the Illini were unable to keep pace with No. 25-ranked Iowa at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, falling 82-56.
Freshman guard Jayla Oden led the way for the Fighting Illini. The Baltimore, Md., native posted a career-high 16 points to finish as the only Illini to reach double-figures scoring. It marked Oden's second consecutive double-digit scoring game (11 vs. Purdue) and surpassed her previous career-high total of 14 points scored in Illinois' early-season win over Miami (OH).
Sophomore forward Kendall Bostic, the Big Ten's top rebounder, once again led all players with 12 boards.
Defensively, the Illini cooled off Iowa's sophomore guard Caitlin Clark. The nation's leading scorer, Clark was coming off of back-to-back 30-point triple-doubles, but was limited to 18 points - more than eight off her season average – for her second-lowest scoring output of the season (16 vs. Southern on Nov. 17). The illini also forced Clark into six turnovers, tying for her second-most on the season. However, Clark was aided by a game-high 21 points from Monika Czinano, 14 by Tomi Taiwo, and 10 by Kylie Feuerbach.
The Fighting Illini continue a stretch of three consecutive games (and four of five overall) on the road with a trip to face No. 6/5 Indiana on Thursday at IU's Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Tipoff between the Illini and the conference-leading Hoosiers is set for 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT, and the game will be streamed on B1G+.Â
TEAM NOTES
- The Fighting Illini move to 6-11 overall (1-5 B1G), and are now 0-7 in games played away from State Farm Center. Â
- Illinois falls to 18-61 all-time vs. Iowa. The Hawkeyes have now won 10 straight in the series.Â
- Illinois is now 0-2 on the season against opponents ranked in the AP Top 25.Â
- Illinois opened the game with a season-low five points in the first quarter.Â
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Freshman G Jayla Oden scored a career-high 16 points, her second straight double-digit scoring game and third overall in her first season in Orange and Blue.
- Oden also finished with a career-high totals for field goals made (6) and tied for her personal best in field goal attempts (10).
- Sophomore F Kendall Bostic recorded game-high 12 rebounds, her 12th game of the season with 10+ boards. Bostic entered the game ranking first in the Big Ten and fifth nationally at 11.88 rebounds per game, and has led the Illini in rebounding in 13 consecutive games, and 16 of 17 games overall this season.
HIGHLIGHTSÂ
