WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The Fighting Illini built a first-quarter lead and were locked in one-point battle at halftime Thursday night at Purdue. But a third-quarter scoring run by the host Boilermakers proved too much to overcome in a 70-54 setback at Mackey Arena.
The Illini (6-16, 1-10 B1G) were led by freshman guard Adalia McKenzie who tallied 12 points. Sophomore post Erika Porter finished just shy of double-figures, but her nine points established a career-high mark. Sophomore Kendall Bostic and senior Geovana Lopes each added six points, while leading the Illini's rebounding efforts with 15 and six, respectively. Junior guard Jada Peebles led the Orange and Blue with five assists.
Purdue featured a balanced offensive attack with four double-digit scorers, led by a pair of reserve guards in Brooke Moore (14 points) and Ava Learn (12). Ricki Woltman and Jeanae Terry each added 11 points. Terry also posted game-highs with 17 rebounds and seven assists.
The Illini held Boilermakers to just seven points in the first quarter, closing the period with an 11-7 advantage. Purdue found their offensive stride with 25 points in the second, but the Ilini kept pace to head into the locker room trailing 32-31.
Following an Eva Rubin bucket to open the second-half scoring, the Illini were held to just one field goal over the next seven minutes. Purdue took advantage, mounting a 12-2 run that turned the Illini's 33-32 lead into a double-digit deficit.
Another 6-0 run early in the fourth pushed the Purdue lead to 18, 60-42, with 7:29 left in the game. Illinois answered with eight straight to pull within 10, but were unable to claw any closer as Purdue scored 10 of the game's final 14 points to secure the win.
Next up, the Fighting Illini return home to State Farm Center, playing host to in-state rival Northwestern. Tipoff between the Illini and the Wildcats is set for 4 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
TEAM NOTES
- The Fighting Illini move to 6-16 overall (1-10 B1G), and fall to 0-9 overall away from State Farm Center.
- Illinois falls to 19-63 all-time vs. Purdue. The Boilermakers complete the regular-season sweep and have now won three straight in the series.
- Illinois held Purdue to just seven points in the first quarter, the fewest points allowed in an opening period by the Illini this season, and the second fewest points allowed in a single quarter overall this season (6 in 4th quarter vs. Wisconsin, 1/9/22).
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Freshman G Adalia McKenzie (12 points) scored in double figures for the ninth time this season. McKenzie also pulled down five rebounds, her 10th game of the season with at least five boards.
- It marks the sixth game this season that McKenzie has finished as the Illini's leading scorer.
- Sophomore F Kendall Bostic recorded a team-high 12 rebounds vs. the Boilermakers. Bostic entered the game ranking first in the Big Ten and 10th nationally at 11.7 rebounds per game, and has led the Illini in rebounding in 18 consecutive games, and 21 of 22 games overall this season.
- Bostic has now recorded 261 rebounds on the year, passing Jonelle Polk (1986-87) to move into No. 20 on the Illini's single-season rebounding list.
- Sophomore F Erika Porter recorded career highs in points (9) and free-throws (5) vs the Boilermakers.
HIGHLIGHTS
