CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois used productive performances from its guards to take down Alcorn State, 90-59, at State Farm Center on Sunday afternoon.
Makira Cook led all scorers with 21, while Adalia McKenzie, Genesis Bryant, and Jada Peebles all finished in double figures.
The Illini had an efficient day from deep, shooting 52.2% from beyond the arc.
"Really happy overall, besides that third quarter," said head coach Shauna Green. "I thought we did a really good job. We came out, held them to 10, 15, and then obviously we responded in the fourth and only held them to eight. We had four people in double figures again, which has kind of been the trend. We've had four or five in double figures in our first two games, and I want to continue to see that."
Illinois opened the game on an 8-0 run, with McKenzie recording five points to open her account. After a short offensive run by Alcorn State, the Illini responded with a 7-0 stretch via five points from Cook. Illinois went 50% from the field and 66.7% from beyond the arc in the opening frame to jump out to a 23-10 lead after 10 minutes of play.
The Illini went on an 11-0 run between the first and second quarters, with Cook and Bryant both hitting triples to open the second frame. Illinois held Alcorn State without a field goal for over four minutes and extended its advantage to 24.Â
Eventually leading by as many as 29, the Illini led 51-25 at the break, headlined by Cook and Bryant, who notched 12 and 11, respectively. Illinois shot 48.5% from the field and held Alcorn State to 31.0%, recording four steals and two blocks in the first two quarters.
McKenzie sparked the Illini offense in the third quarter, scoring nine points to bring her to double-digits on the afternoon. Peebles converted both of her 3-pointer attempts in the third quarter, giving Illinois a 21-point lead, 72-51, with one period to play.
Cook hit a triple to open Illinois' fourth-quarter scoring, giving her a season-high 21 points. The 3-pointer opened a 13-0 Illini run over a five-minute stretch to extend the lead to 32. Illinois outscored Alcorn State 18-8Â in the final frame to secure the victory.
Illinois (2-0) returns to State Farm Center on Wednesday to take on McNeese State. Tip-off is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT.
Quotes
Head coach Shauna Green
Opening statement:
"Really happy overall, besides that third quarter. I thought we did a really good job. We came out, held them to 10, 15, and then obviously we responded in the fourth and only held them to eight. We had four people in double figures again, which has kind of been the trend. We've had four or five in double figures in our first two games, and I want to continue to see that.
"Overall, it was a good performance. Obviously, we shot the ball extremely well in the first half and had a little bit of a letdown in the third. Otherwise, the first, second, fourth, I thought were really solid, but the third quarter was sloppy, both offensively and defensively. We'll continue to work on it, and we'll sharpen that up.
"Great job, and great job by (Peebles and Cook). Really happy to see Jada get herself going, shot it extremely well: four for five from three with five for eight. She just kept shooting, and that's what we've been telling her: Just keep shooting, it'll go, and we're going to need her scoring. We're going to need her presence on the court, so it was really, really great to have her get back to herself today."
On finding balance between playing fast and playing under control:Â
"Yeah, that's one thing I think in our system, we do. We want to play fast. In our transition, we say we want to score in six seconds or less, but if we don't have anything in our Phoenix transition, I want us to pull it out, get into offense, and we're going to run something. I think that we're a fast uptempo team, but if we don't have anything, we're not going to just jack shots. I do not want to play like that. I think it's a controlled tempo. If we don't have Phoenix, then let's get it out, and then I'm fine. It's just the next best shot, if that's at the end of the shot clock, or if that's within the first five seconds of half-court offense."
On the team's identity:
"We want to hang our hat on our defense because our defense and rebounding are going to lead us to be able to play at the pace that we want to play at. Our offense is going to be generated from our defense. In the third, our defense got a little lackadaisical, we fouled a lot, we couldn't get out and run, and we weren't in our good offensive flow. We talk, we preach: Our philosophy is we defend, we rebound, and then we run and play offense, so we got to hang our hat on our defense every day."
Makira Cook
On the team's improved 3-point shooting:
"There was a specific person that was sitting next to me or something, and they weren't happy with how they shot at the game last week, and they were in the gym late at night. That just shows you that we're not just going to settle for low percentages, and if we're not happy, we're gonna work for what we want."
On approach heading into games as team's leading scorer:
"I try to let the game come to me or whatever is needed that night. I don't necessarily go into the game thinking I'm gonna score the most. However they're playing, just go based off of that."
Jada Peebles
On the team's improved 3-point shooting:
"I think it was just us staying in the gym, and knowing that we have confidence for each other. Knowing that when we drive and attack, and when we get the wide-open shots, everyone knows they're gonna make it. I think it was just staying in the gym and just keeping confidence in all of our teammates."
On personal improvements:
"I think it was just letting go of the game and knowing that I am still trying to get back from everything. It was just that mentality of having confidence and knowing, 'OK, if the first shot didn't go in, the next shot will.' It's just having the more positive mindset of next shot's going in, next shot's going in."
On providing a spark off the bench:
"It feels good. It feels good in general just to be that energy kick for  our team. That always feels good to come in, hype other people, and just hype myself up as well."
Game Notes
Player Notes:
-
Makira Cook recorded 21 points, the eighth 20+ point game of career.
-
Went 4-for-5 from 3-point arc
-
First 20+ point game at Illinois
-
Led the Illini in scoring and rebounds in the win.
-
Team-high five assists
-
First Illini to score 20+ points since Feb. 14, 2022, Aaliyah Nye, 25 vs . #18 Ohio State (Ohio State 86, Illinois 67).
-
Brynn Shoup-Hill scored her first points as an Illini in the win, finishing with six.
-
Kam'Ren Rhodes scored her first bucket as an Illini in her debut, finishing with two points.
-
Adalia McKenzie scored 17 points - her best on the young season.
-
Jada Peebles finished with 14 points.
-
The 30th double-digit scoring effort of her career.
-
11 points came in second half.
-
She's now started 80 career games.
-
Genesis Bryant second-straight game with double-digit scoring
Miscellaneous Notes:
-
Starters: Makira Cook, Jayla Oden, Adalia McKenzie, Brynn Shoup-Hill, Kendall Bostic. Illinois is now 2-0 with this unit.
-
Illinois has opened the season with back-to-back 30-point victories - the first time since at least the 1999-2000 campaign.
-
Illinois has held opponents to 10 points or less in 5-of-8 quarters this season.
-
Against Alcorn State record: 3-0
-
Illinois women's basketball record in State Farm Center: 297-221Â
-
Uniforms: Home whites, 2-0
-
Last time Illinois scored 90+ in a game - Nov. 5, 2019 vs. Chicago State / W, 96-66
-
35 points off the bench - second game with 30 or more for Illinois this season.
-
Attendance was called at 1,776.
