CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - In front of the largest women's basketball crowd to fill State Farm Center in over 20 seasons, Illinois delivered a 100-38 win over McNeese State on Wednesday. The annual Field Trip Day promotion brought in the 11th-largest crowd in program history with 8,141 fans. All 13 players on the Illini roster scored in the win.

With the triumph over the Cowgirls, the Fighting Illini improved to 3-0 on the year, the 14th time in program history the squad has achieved such a mark. The visiting Cowgirls dropped to 1-2 during their 2022-23 campaign.  

Illinois scored the opening points of the game for the third-straight contest, taking a quick 3-0 lead over McNeese State. The Cowgirls would knot the score at 3-3 - the Illini's first time tied of the season - before the Orange and Blue turned out a 13-0 run. After the opening period, Illinois led 22-7 with Adalia McKenzie scoring eight points.

Second-quarter action saw the Illini put up their largest scoring margin in a quarter on the season, winning the frame 30-5. Illinois ended the half on a 22-4 run to own a 52-12 lead at the break. In the first half, Illinois outscored McNeese State in the paint, 15-0 and shot 50 percent from the field, compared to the Cowgirls' 16 percent. 

Illinois came out of the break with its strongest third quarter showing of the season, opening with an 11-0 run and ultimately winning the frame 23-13. McNeese State was held without a field goal for a nine minute span, going 0-14 and scoring 10 of their 13 third quarter points off free throws. 

The Orange and Blue shot 50 percent from and field during the final frame, outscoring the Cowgirls 25-13 to close out the victory. Geovana Lopes scored nine of her 13 points during the period, going 4-of-8 from the field. Camille Jackson scored the Illini's final point of the victory, sinking a shot from the charity stripe to securing the program's 16th-ever 100 point game.

Shauna Green

Opening Statement:

"This was a great team win today. We had everyone in the game, and we had everyone score a basket. That's something that doesn't happen a lot. Obviously being able to score 100 points for the kids, they weren't going to be happy if we didn't, so luckily Camille got that free throw in. Also, being able to hold a team to 38 points is great. Again, we hang our hat on our defense so holding them to 7-5-13-13 – we'll take that everyday. I'm proud of the team, obviously we have a lot to continue to get better at, and we'll continue to work and address those things and prepare for our next game on Saturday."

On Freshman Getting Minutes

"It's key, because there may be games where we do get that and for their progression they need some game minutes and I understand that. It's also good to get them experience and save some legs for all of our players because we're going into a really tough stretch this next week. It's nice to have the top minutes being 27 and all the starters at 20, it's good in terms of keeping us fresh, it's good to put the freshman out there in an environment like that against a pressing team."

Genesis Bryant

On Scoring Off the Bench

"I just try to bring fuel to the fire. Coach always talks about when it's showtime you have to make the best of the opportunity, so I just try to add to the theme when I get out there." 

Jayla Oden 

On Points in the Paint

"Coach preaches to just get paint touches, which lead to open threes or even just points in the paint. Also rebounding and boxing out – I think that's the key for us this year."

GAME NOTES

Player Notes:

• All 13 Fighting Illini players on the roster scored during the contest.

  • 11/5/19 vs. Chicago State (96-66) - The last time that all players that saw playing time scored.

• Kendall Bostic posted her second double-double of the season, eighth of her career during the victory.

• Jayla Oden tallied her first double-digit scoring effort this year, sixth of career, scoring 10 points in Wednesday's win.

• Liisa Taponen scored her first career points with the Illini.

• Geovana Lopes notched a career-high 13 points

• Camille Jackson scored the 100th point of the game from the foul line.

• Aicha Ndour brought down a career-best eight rebounds

• The win marked the third-straight double-digit game for Adalia McKenzie this season. McKenzie has tallied five-straight double-digit efforts dating back to Wisconsin on March 2, 2022.

Team Notes:

• First score at 8:44 by Adalia McKenzie and she would make the and-1 for a 3-0 lead.

• McNeese State would tie the game at 3-3, the only time Illinois has been tied this season.

• Illinois had back-to-back 50-point halves, scoring 52 in the first half against McNeese state and 51 against Alcorn State.

• The last time Illinois allowed 12 or less points in a first half was March 9, 2021 against Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament (12). 

• Today was the first time that the Illini scored 100 points in a win since Nov. 17, 2013, vs. Alcorn State (112-28).

• Six players scored in double-digit points for the first time since seven did so against Alcorn State on Nov. 17, 2013 (W, 112-28).

• The 62-point margin of victory is the second-largest margin of victory ever in Illini history and the second-largest margin of victory at home.

• The Illini have scored at least 50 points in a half in two-straight games for the first time since Nov. 14 - 17, 2013, recording such performances against Mississippi Valley State and Alcorn State.

• The 8.0 percent for McNeese State marked the lowest opponent 3-point shooting percentage since holding Wisconsin to a 7.7 percent mark on March 9, 2021 in the Big Ten tournament.

• Illini scored 50-or more points in the paint in 2-of-3 games this season

Misc Notes:

• Starters: Makira Cook, Jayla Oden, Adalia McKenzie,  Brynn Shoup-Hill, Kendall Bostic. Illinois is now 3-0 with this unit.

• Shauna Green is now:

  • 3-0 at Illinois

  • 130-50 as a Division I coach

  • 159-75 overall

• Illinois has held opponents to 10 points or less in 7-of-12 quarters this season.

• Against McNeese State record: 1-0

  • 1-0 at home

  • Shauna Green vs. McNeese State: 1-0

• Illinois women's basketball record in State Farm Center: 298-221 

• Uniforms: Home whites, 3-0

• The 53 points off the bench - third-straight game with 30 or more for Illinois this season.

• Attendance was called at 8,141 - the 11th highest in program history. The number also marks the best women's basketball crowd in over 20 years at home.

• The Illini are now 5-1 all-time in Field Trip Day games, winning the last five events.

• Illinois has won three-straight games to open a season by 30 points or more for the first time in program history.

• Illinois is now 15-1 all-time when scoring 100 or more points in a game.

• Illinois women's basketball has now started a season 3-0 or better 14 times in program history. The last time Illinois started 3-0 in a season was the 2019-20 campaign.

• Illinois is 2-0 in day games

• Illini has won the tip in 2-of-3 games (LIU and McNeese State)