CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Aaliyah Nye poured in a career-high 25 points and Kendall Bostic tallied her fifth double-double of the season with 12 points and 16 rebounds, but a slow start to the third quarter, spurred on by No. 18 Ohio State's potent offense and full-court press erased a strong first-half effort by the Illini in an 86-67 loss on Monday night at State Farm Center.
Nye was key to the fast start by the Illini as the sophomore guard scored the first 11 points of the game. The teams played to a tie through the first six minutes of action, but the Buckeyes' offense, the No. 4 scoring unit in the NCAA, quickly found another gear with an 11-0 run that helped them stake to a 27-15 edge after the first quarter. The teams traded baskets throughout the second period and Illinois went into the locker room trailing, 42-30.
Coming out of the break, Ohio State's defensive pressure stifled the Illini. The Buckeyes opened the half with 21 consecutive points, and pushed the lead to 32 entering the fourth. The Illini continued to battle to the end, however, outscoring OSU 24-11 in the final frame, including three fourth-quarter triples from Nye, who sunk five from distance en route to her career night
In addition to Nye and Bostic, freshman guard Adalia McKenzie chipped in with 11 points and five rebounds.
Four players reached double-digits scoring for OSU. Leading scorer Jacy Sheldon notched 22 points and seven assists, while Ricki Harris added 17, including five three-pointers. Rebeka Mikulasikova (14 points) and Taylor Mikesell (13) also reached double-figures.
Next up, the Fighting Illini travel to West Lafayette, Ind., for a Thursday night matchup at Purdue. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT at Purdue's Mackey Arena.
TEAM NOTES
- The Fighting Illini move to 6-15 overall (1-9 B1G), and fall to 6-7 at State Farm Center.
- Illinois falls to 20-56 all-time vs. Ohio State. The Buckeyes have now won 10 straight in the series.
- The Illini used their ninth different starting lineup of the season on Monday as redshirt-senior C Eva Rubin returned to the starting five for the first time since Dec. 19, along with Jayla Oden, Adalia McKenzie, Aaliyah Nye, and Kendall Bostic.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Sophomore G Aaliyah Nye, one game after tying her career scoring high, established a new career-high mark with 25 points vs. Ohio State.
- Nye's 25-point effort marks her fourth 20-point game of the season and her 11th game of the year in double-figures scoring.
- Sophomore F Kendall Bostic recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 12 points and 16 rebounds.
- Bostic's 16 rebounds marked a game-high total. She entered the game ranking first in the Big Ten and 13th nationally at 11.50 rebounds per game, and has led the Illini in rebounding in 17 consecutive games, and 20 of 21 games overall this season.
- With her sixth rebound of the game vs. Ohio State on Monday night, Bostic officially cracked Illinois single-season top-25 list. She has recorded 246 boards this season, tying Kendra Gantt (1982-83) for 23rd on the list. Â
- Freshman G Adalia McKenzie (11 points) scored in double figures for the eighth time this season. McKenzie also pulled down five rebounds, her ninth game of the season with at least five boards.
PRESS CONFERENCE
HIGHLIGHTS
