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 face their penultimate home game of the 2021-22 regular season on Sunday, hosting in-state rival Northwestern.
» Tipoff between the Fighting Illini (6-16, 1-10 B1G) and the Wildcats (14-10, 6-7 B1G) is set for 4 p.m. CT from State Farm Center
» The game will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network with Matt Schumacker (play-by-play) and Autumn Johnson (analyst).
» Mike Koon 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 Sunday vs. Northwestern with an overall record of 6-16 (1-10 B1G), and will be looking to snap an eight-game skid, overall, including a stretch of four consecutive home losses.
» The Illini are 6-7 at home this season, but have not won at home since a 68-47 victory over Wisconsin on Jan. 9.
» Offensively, the Illini have opened the season with an improved scoring average from last season. Through 22 games, the Illini are averaging 64.55 points per game, an improvement of nearly five points per game over last year's season average of 59.6 ppg.
» Illinois enter Sunday vs. Northwestern 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 11.9 ppg, an improvement of nearly four points per game from her freshman campaign (8.1 ppg).
» Freshman G Adalia McKenzie ranks just behind Nye and is just shy of a double-figures scoring average at 9.0 points per game.
» Behind Nye and McKenzie, the Illini's offensive attack has been balanced with seven other players tallying at least one double-digit scoring game, and four others, De'Myla Brown (8.8), Jada Peebles (7.1), Kendall Bostic (6.7), and Jayla Oden (6.0) entering action vs. Northwestern at 6.0 ppg or more.
» Sophomore F Kendall Bostic is the top rebounder in the Big Ten Conference and enters play this week ranked ninth nationally at 11.9 rebounds per game. Bostic has recorded five double-doubles on the year.
About Northwestern
Northwestern enters Sunday's game with an overall record of 14-10 (6-7 B1G). NU is most recently coming off of a 69-58 road loss at No. 5 Indiana on Thursday (Feb. 17) after a home win over No. 4 Michigan (71-69, 20T) on Sunday (Feb. 13).
» The Wildcats went 8-3 in non-conference play.
» Following a 3-4 start to B1G play, the Wildcats have gone 3-2 in February, including the their double-overtime win vs. No. 4-ranked Michigan.
» Northwestern is 4-5 in true road games this season, and has posted a 3-4 mark in Big Ten road games including the team's 77-69 win at then-No. 22 Iowa on Jan. 6. NU has lost two straight conference road games - at Minnesota and at No. 5 Indiana - entering Sunday.
» Northwestern is led by is led by senior G Veronica Burton who averages 18.0 ppg (ninth in the B1G). Burton is the only Wildcat to average double-figures scoring, followed by freshman forward Caileigh Walsh (8.2 ppg.).
» Burton also leads the team in three-pointers (36), assists (151), steals (95), three-point percentage (34.6%) and free-throw percentage (82.5%).
» Senior F Courtney Shaw is the team's top rebounder, pulling down 9.9 rebounds per game, which ranks third in the B1G behind Illinois' Kendall Bostic (11.86) and Maryland's Angel Reese (10.73).
» Head coach Joe McKeown, is in his 14th season at the helm of the program after previously serving as the head coach for 19 seasons at George Washington (1986-89), and three seasons at New Mexico State (1989-2008).
Series vs. Northwestern
Sunday's matchup vs. Northwestern marks the 83rd in the series between the Illini and the Wildcats dating back to the 1975-76 season.
» At 83 games, the series is tied with Illinois-Purdue, for the most contests vs. a single opponent in program history.
» Illinois trails in the all-time series, 34-48. The Illini are 18-21 in games played in Champaign, 13-24 in Evanston, and 3-3 in neutral-site contests.
» The Wildcats won both regular-season matchup last season, including a narrow 67-61 win at State Farm Center in on Feb 24, 2021. NU also eliminated the Illini in the quarterfinal round of the 2021 Big Ten Championship with
» Overall, Northwestern has won 13 consecutive matchups in the series. Illinois' last win over NU was a 76-74 victory in Evanston on Jan. 15, 2014.
» NU has also won seven consecutive games in Champaign since Illinois' last home win the series on Feb. 20, 2012 (69-57).
» Sunday's matchup is the first between U of I and NU this season. It was originally scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 13, but was moved to allow for the rescheduling of other Big Ten games. The second matchup of the season, originally set for Saturday, Jan. 30, in Evanston, was also postponed in accordance with B1G COVID-19 protocols, and has not yet been rescheduled.
Equality & Inclusion Night
Sunday's game vs. Northwestern has been designated as Illinois' Equality and Inclusion Night. as the team will be participating in the nationwide campaign organized by the Rising Coaches Association.
» Members of the Fighting Illini coaching staff will be wearing black on the sidelines and will don an "equal sign" pin that was created by the organization to symbolize equality.
» Additionally, the Illini team will wear their grey uniforms with black accessories during the game.
Up Next
The Fighting Illini face their final road test of the 2021-22 regular season on Thursday, traveling to Minneapolis, Minn., for a matchup vs. the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
» Tipoff between the Illini and the Gophers is set for 7 p.m. CT, and the game will be streamed live on B1G+.
» Minnesota (12-15, 5-10 B1G) plays at Nebraska on Sunday.
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)
