The University of Illinois has instituted a proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative-test protocol for all university sponsored events open to the public with more than 200 people in attendance. This policy will be in effect for Thursday's Illinois vs. Michigan women's basketball game at State Farm Center. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
PREVIEW
Opening Tip
The Fighting Illini continue a three-game home stand - all against foes ranked or receiving top-25 votes - hosting the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday afternoon.
» Tipoff between the Fighting Illini (6-13, 1-7 B1G) and the Huskers (17-6, 6-6 B1G) is set for 2 p.m. CT at State Farm Center.
» The game will be streamed live on the B1G+ with George Khouri (play-by-play), Will Haliday (analyst), and Karidia Shelby (sideline).
» Scott Beatty will call the action for the Illini on the Busey Bank Illini Sports Network (1400 AM / 93.9 FM).
» Streaming audio and live stats are also available at FightingIllini.com.
About the Illini
Illinois enters Saturday's game vs. Nebraska with an overall record of 6-13 (1-7 B1G), and will be looking to snap a five-game skid.
» The Illini are 6-5 at home, but have struggled away from State Farm Center, going 0-8, including a pair of neutral-site losses as part of the Daytona Beach Invitational in November.
» Offensively, the Illini have opened the season with an improved scoring average from last season. Through 19 games, the Illini are averaging 65.1 points per game, an improvement of nearly six points per game over last year's season average of 59.6 ppg.
» Illinois enter Saturday's game vs. Nebraska with a 5-1 mark in games in which the Illini offense scores at least 70 points.
» Leading scorer, sophomore G Aaliyah Nye, is averaging 11.1 ppg, an improvement of three points per game from her freshman campaign (8.1 ppg).
» Junior G De'Myla Brown ranks just behind Nye and is just shy of a double-figures scoring average at 9.5 points per game.
» Behind Nye and Brown, the Illini's offensive attack has been balanced with seven other players tallying at least one double-digit scoring game, and three others, Adalia McKenzie (8.9), Jada Peebles (7.6) and Jayla Oden (7.1), entering action vs. Nebraska averaging better than 7.0 ppg.
» Sophomore F Kendall Bostic is the top rebounder in the Big Ten Conference and enters play this weekend ranked ninth nationally at 11.68 rebounds per game.
About Nebraska
Nebraska enters Saturday's game with an overall record of 17-6 (6-6 B1G), and is receiving top-25 votes in both the Associated Press and USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll.
» The Cornhuskers went 11-0 in non-conference play, and were 13-0 overall before suffering their first loss of the season at Michigan State on Dec. 30.
» Since then, the team is 5-5 over their last 10 games, including a huge win over then-No. 8 ranked Michigan on Jan. 4. NU also boasts league wins over at Minnesota, vs. Wisconsin, vs. Purdue, vs. Rutgers, and vs. Penn State, while falling to Indiana, Iowa, and most recently at Maryland and at Ohio State in the first two games of their current three-game road swing.
» Overall, Nebraska has performed much better at home than on the road this season, going 13-1 in Pinnacle Bank Arena, and 3-5 in true road contests. They also have a neutral-court victory over Drexel.
» Freshman C/F Alexis Markowski leads the team in both scoring (12.8 ppg) and rebounding (7.4 rpg). She is one of four Huskers averaging double-figures scoring along with Oregon transfer G Jaz Shelley (11.9 ppg), junior G Sam Haiby (10.2 ppg), and sophomore F Isabelle Bourne (10.0 ppg).
» Defensively, the team ranks first in the Big Ten in field-goal percentage defense (.369) and three-point field-gal percentage defense (.272 ). The team also boasts the top scoring margin in the conference at +16.5 for the season.
» Head coach Amy Williams is in her sixth season at the helm of the NU program. She previously coached NCAA Division II Rogers State (2007-12) and South Dakota (2012-16).
Series vs. Nebraska
Saturday's matchup vs. Nebraska marks the 22nd in the series between the Illini and the Cornhuskers dating back to the 1981-82 season.
» Illinois is 5-16 in the series. The Illini are 2-7 vs. Nebraska in games played in Champaign, while posting a 1-8 mark in Lincoln, and a 2-1 record in neutral-site contests.
» The Huskers have won six straight in the series, with Illinois' last victory coming in a 79-70 win at the 2017 Big Ten Championship Tournament (3/1/2017).
» Illinois' last home win in the series was a 79-59 victory on Jan. 15, 2017. Since then, the Huskers have claimed three-in-a-row at State Farm Center.
» In two meetings last season, the Illini played toe-to-toe with the Cornhuskers. The two games were decided by a combined 10 points, with NU claiming a 78-72 victory in Lincoln (12/10/2020). The Illini were then narrowly edged at home, 57-53 (1/25/2021).
Up Next
The Fighting Illini close out this three-game home stand on Monday night, playing host to No. 21/21 Ohio State at State Farm Center.
» Tipoff between the Illini and the Buckeyes is set for 8 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
» Ohio State (18-4, 10-3 B1G) is idle this weekend, coming off of an 80-70 win over Nebraska on Thursday night.
» The matchup between the Illini and the Buckeyes marks the 40th anniversary of the very first Big Ten Women's Basketball Championship game played between the Illini and the Buckeyes on Feb. 14, 1982 in East Lansing, Mich.
Follow The Illini
For more Fighting Illini women's basketball news, stay tuned to FightingIllini.com and follow @IlliniWBB on social media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook.
FULL GAME NOTES (PDF)
