CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Shauna Green-era of Illinois women's basketball opened with a 78-43 exhibition win over Quincy on Friday night from State Farm Center.
All 11 Illini that dressed for the preseason tune-up saw action. Kendall Bostic, Makira Cook, Adalia McKenzie, Jayla Oden and Brynn Shoup-Hill made up the first starting lineup of the year for Green's squad.
Illinois won the tip and six seconds later owned a lead it would never relinquish as Bostic dropped in a layup on her way to scoring the Orange and Blue's first five points of the game. Aicha Ndour was the first sub off the Illini bench and would help the squad force a Quincy shot clock violation before the Hawks would score their opening points.
After a 9-0 start to the first quarter, Illinois would lead 28-10 following 10 minutes of play. That lead grew to a 24-point margin at the half, with the hosts ahead 44-20. The Illini would push out to a 58-31 lead following the third quarter before earning the 78-43 victory.
In the second half, the Fighting Illini went 6-of-7 from beyond the arc with Genesis Bryant dropping in three treys on her own in that span.
Bryant would finish with a game-high 25 points including draining 5-of-7 3-pointers. McKenzie registered 21 points and was one of three Illini to grab six or more rebounds in the win. Bostic joined her teammates in double figures with 10 points to go along with eight boards and five blocks.
Illinois forced 20 Quincy turnovers and scored 24 points off them, which included a 16-2 margin in fast-break points. The Illini dominated the battle in the paint, doubling up the Hawks 36-18 in points scored. Additionally, Illinois out-blocked Quincy, 8-2.
Quincy would ultimately shoot just 26.7-percent from the field on the night to Illinois' 49.2-percent. The Illini finished with a 50-percent showing from deep.
The Fighting Illini will open the regular season on Wednesday, Nov. 9, as LIU comes to town. Action will be streamed on B1G+ with tipoff slated for 7 p.m. CT.
TICKETS
Single game tickets start at just $5 to catch Illinois women's basketball in action inside State Farm Center during the 2022-23 campaign.
Season tickets remain available as well and can be purchased HERE, beginning at $40 per seat.
Illinois will remain at home for its first five contests of the season, spanning a 13-day period before the squad hits the road over Thanksgiving break.
