Lights-Out Three-Point Shooting Gives Illinois Big Road Win Over Pitt

PITTSBURGH - Illinois used a strong shooting night, especially from beyond the arc, to take down Pittsburgh, 92-71, on the road on Wednesday evening in the ACC/B1G Challenge.

The Fighting Illini shot 58.3 percent on 3-point attempts, with Jada Peebles and Genesis Bryant leading the way. The team made 14 triples, which tied for the second-most in program history, and Peebles and Bryant both registered career-highs from deep with six and four, respectively.

Adalia McKenzie scored a career-high 25 points in the win, shooting an efficient 81.8 percent. Makira Cook, Peebles and Bryant all finished in double figures with 22, 20, and 17, respectively.

The Illini also dominated the glass, outrebounding the Panthers, 36-22, including 13-8 on the offensive end. Kendall Bostic led the way with 14 rebounds, a new season-high.

Illinois jumped out to a 7-2 lead just over three minutes into the contest via baskets from Cook and Peebles. An 11-2 run over a four-minute stretch helped the Illini take an 11-point lead, their largest of the opening frame, and Cook recorded nine points as the visitors led, 18-13, after 10 minutes.

After shooting 50 percent from the floor in the first quarter, the Illini went 73.3 percent in the second frame. McKenzie scored 11 points in the final 10 minutes of the first half, and the Illini closed the half on a 6-0 run to take a 20-point lead into the break.

The Illini led 50-30 at halftime, scoring 32 points in the second quarter, their most in a frame this season. Cook and McKenzie both notched double-digit points in the first half, while the Illini shot 62.8 percent on field-goal attempts and brought the intensity on the defensive end of the court. 

Illinois knocked down six 3-pointers, including four from Bryant, in the third quarter as it continued to add to its advantage. The Illini used a 7-0 run and two different 5-0 stretches to take a 79-55 lead into the final frame.

Leading by as many as 30 in the last 10 minutes of action, the Illini improved to 7-1 on the season, tying their win total from one season ago. Illinois opens Big Ten play on the road at No. 5 Indiana on Sunday afternoon.

PLAYER NOTES

• Kendall Bostic grabbed 14 rebounds, the fifth-time this season she has double-digit rebounding efforts.

  • The 14 boards is a new season high.

• Adalia McKenzie scored 25 points, setting a new career high.

  • McKenzie has 20-point scoring performances in back-to-back games.

  • McKenzie has scored double digits in all eight games this season and 10 consecutive contests dating back to last season. 

• Brynn Shoup-Hill grabbed six rebounds, the fifth time this season she has grabbed at least six boards.

• Makira Cook scored 22 points, a season high, and added nine assists in the game.

  • Cook scored 18 of her 22 points in the first half while also tallying four rebounds and four assists.

  • Cook has double-digit scoring efforts in seven of eight games this season.

  • Cook has 19 assists in her last two games compared to just four turnovers.

• Genesis Bryant scored 17 points off of the bench on 5-for-8 shooting. Bryant has scored in double-digits six times this season, all coming off of the bench.

  • Bryant went 4-for-5 from behind the arc, a career high in makes.

    • Bryant made just three total 3-pointers last season.

• Jada Peebles scored 20 points, setting a new season-high mark, going 7-for-8 from the floor, including 6-for-7 from 3.

  • Peebles made six 3-point field goals, a new career high.

  • She is the first Illini to make five 3s in a game since March 2, 2022 (Aaliyah Nye vs. Wisconsin).

  • After starting the season 0-for-6 from deep, Peebles has gone 22-for-31 since, a 71 percent clip.

TEAM NOTES

• First basket was scored by Pitt marking the first game Illinois didn't score first this season.

• The Illini captured their first true road win since Feb. 9, 2020, snapping a streak of 21-straight losses.

• Illinois (7-1) has already equaled its win total from last season.

• The Illini have won all seven of their games by at least 21 points.

• Illinois shot 55.7 percent (34-61) from the floor tonight, a season high.

• The Illini had four players score in double-digits, including three with at least 20 points.

• The Illini made 14 3-pointers in the contest, a season-high. It also matches the second-most 3-point field goals made in a single game.

  • They also shot a season best 58.3 percent from deep.

• Illinois scored 50 points in the first half, their fourth 50-point half of the season.

• The Illini scored a season-best 32 points in the second quarter.

• Illinois out-rebounded Pittsburgh 36-22. The Illini have secured a +14 rebounding margin in five contests this season and have been at least +10 in six of eight games.

  • The Illini also grabbed 13 offensive rebounds, scoring 12 second-chance points.

  • Illinois has yet to be out-rebounded by an opponent this season.

• Illinois recorded 19 assists on 34 field goals.

  • The 19 assists is a season high.

• The Illini bench out-scored the Panthers 37-25.

• Illinois out-scored Pittsburgh 36-26 in the paint. 

  • The Illini have out-scored their opponents in the paint in every game this season.

MISC NOTES

• Starters: Makira Cook, Jayla Oden, Adalia McKenzie,  Brynn Shoup-Hill, Kendall Bostic. Illinois is now 7-1 with this unit.

• Shauna Green is now:

  • 7-1 at Illinois

  • 134-51 as a Division I coach

  • 163-76 overall

• Against Pitt record: 1-0

  • 1-0 in road games

  • Shauna Green vs. Pitt: 1-0

• Uniforms: Illinois is now 2-0 when wearing Orange uniforms.

• Night games record: 4-0

Score after 1st Quarter: 18-13

Score at Halftime: 50-30 (32-17)

Score after 3rd Quarter: 79-55 (29-25)

Final score: 92-71 (13-16)