CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois cruised to victory with an 89-50 win over Central Connecticut State at State Farm Center on Wednesday night. The matchup marked the second of five contests during the Fighting Illini's five-game homestand, while the Orange and Blue remained perfect at home and are now 4-0 in games played in Champaign this season.
The Fighting Illini out-rebounded the Blue Devils, 48-21, and outscored the visitors in the paint, 50-20. The +27 rebounding margin was the team's largest since 2018.
Adalia McKenzie secured her eighth-career 20-point game, recording a team-high 20 points. After going perfect from the field in the first half, McKenzie tied her career-high with two 3-pointers and amassed a team-best six assists, one short of her career-best mark, and a season-high, game-most four steals.
Kendall Bostic registered a season-high 18 points, and she hit double digits before halftime. Bostic also grabbed a team-most eight rebounds, and she went perfect from the free-throw line with six makes, which tied her career-high.
Makira Cook has reached double digits in two of her three appearances this season, as she finished her team-most 30 minutes of action with 10 points, four rebounds, and two assists.
Genesis Bryant and Gretchen Dolan each accumulated eight points, with Bryant also grabbing three steals and six rebounds and Dolan forcing two takeaways.
Camille Hobby hit double figures for the second consecutive outing, notching 12 points and four rebounds off the bench.
Shay Bollin ended her 15 minutes of play with a career-high seven rebounds, two of which came on the offensive glass.
Illinois opened the game with a layup from Bostic, who dominated the paint on both ends of the floor from start to finish. After the Blue Devils scored on their first possession, the Illini held the visitors without a field goal the rest of the quarter. Using a 16-0 run during that stretch to go ahead by double digits, the Orange and Blue held a 22-5 advantage through 10 minutes of play.
McKenzie accounted for the Illini's first seven points of the second quarter, a run that included her first triple of the season. Four points apiece from Bostic and Hobby helped Illinois fend off the Blue Devils' offensive burst, but Bryant's 3-pointer to close the frame gave the home side a 17-point edge at the break.
With the Illini holding a 40-23 lead, McKenzie led all scorers and was perfect from the field with 13 points in the first half. Bostic also hit double figures before halftime, tallying 10 points. Illinois took advantage of its four offensive rebounds, registering 10 second-chance points through the opening 20 minutes.
After the two sides traded baskets through the first four minutes of the second half, Illinois pieced together an 8-0 run over the span of three minutes to extend their lead to 27 points. Back-to-back baskets to end the frame sent the Illini into the fourth quarter with a 64-36 lead.
A 13-0 run over a three-minute stretch near the start of the final period of play saw the hosts' edge grow to 39 points. Leading by as many as 41, eight different players registered points in the fourth quarter en route to the Illini's second straight victory and a 39-point home win.
Illinois (4-2) returns to State Farm Center on Wednesday, Dec. 6, to take on Northern Kentucky. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. on B1G+.
Postgame Notes
PLAYER NOTES
- Genesis Bryant scored eight points, had six rebounds and two assists.
- Her six rebounds are a season high.
- Makira Cook scored 10 points and added four rebounds and two assists.
- Has scored in double figures twice this season.
- Has at least four rebounds in back-to-back games.
- Adalia McKenzie scored a season-high 20 points and added a game-high six assists.
- First 20-point game of the season.
- Has scored at least 15 points in three straight games.
- Led all players at half with 13 points while shooting 100% from the field and the FT line.
- Matched her career high with two 3-pointers made.
- Her six assists are also a season-high mark, falling just one shy of her career high.
- Kendall Bostic scored a season-high 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
- Has scored in double figures in two straight games and in five of six overall.
- Third time this season securing at least eight boards.
- Gretchen Dolan scored eight points off the bench and added two rebounds.
- Camille Hobby scored 12 points off of the bench and secured four rebounds.
- Has scored in double figures in consecutive games for the first time this season.
TEAM NOTES
- Illinois won the tip, and Kendall Bostic opened the scoring with a layup on the Illini's first possession of the game.
- Four players in double figures for the Illini.
- Have had at least four players score in double figures in consecutive games, third time overall.
- Nine different Illini have had double-digit scoring efforts this season.
- Illinois held Central Connecticut State to just one field goal in a 9:39 span between the first and second quarters.
- Illini went on a 22-2 run during that span.
- The Illini also recorded a 13-0 run in the fourth quarter, holding the Blue Devils scoreless for a 4:16 span.
- Illinois scored 16 points off of 15 Central Connecticut State turnovers.
- The Illini have forced at least 15 turnovers in all six games this season.
- The Illini outrebounded the Blue Devils, 48-21.
- Illinois scored 23 second-chance points on 16 offensive rebounds.
- The Illini have now won the rebounding battle in consecutive games for the first time this season.
- The +27 rebounding margin is a season-high mark and the highest since a +28 margin on Nov. 14, 2018, vs. Valparaiso.
- Five different Illini secured at least four rebounds.
- The Illinois bench outscored its Central Connecticut State counterparts, 33-8.
- The Illini recorded four blocks in the contest with four different players recording a rejection.
- The Illinois defense has blocked at least four shots in consecutive games.
- Have blocked at least three shots in five of six games this season.
MISC NOTES
- Starters: Makira Cook, Genesis Bryant, Adalia McKenzie, Brynn Shoup-Hill and Kendall Bostic.
- This lineup is now 2-1 on the season.
- Shauna Green is now:
- 26-12 at Illinois
- 153-62 as a Division I coach
- 182-87 overall
- Illinois vs. Central Connecticut State: 1-0 (First Meeting)
- Illinois is now 3-0 when wearing white uniforms.
- The Illini are now 2-0 in games played after 5 p.m.
- The Illini are now 4-2 in November.
QUOTES
Opening statement:
"I thought we had a really great start to the game. Obviously, holding them to only five points in that first quarter. The second quarter is obviously one that we struggled in defensively, so we have to be better at that and continue to try to put 40 minutes together. Just because we're up 18 or 20, we have to keep our foot on the gas and continue to execute defensively and also run our offense.Â
"We went a little rogue there in the second quarter and took shots that weren't really in our rhythm. It's just not what we do. That allowed them to get some easy baskets on the other end, but then I thought we responded extremely well at halftime and came out and defended with a lot more intensity. We rebounded extremely well. I know we're bigger than them, but sometimes it's harder because they're so quick and little, and then they're also five-out a lot. To be able to handle them easily on the boards was something that we were really focused on the last couple of weeks, so credit to these guys for executing it.
"We had a lot of players produce, and a lot of players who were able to score but then also, more importantly, a lot of players came in and rebounded at a high level. When you get a lot of people doing a lot of different things, it takes a lot of pressure off.Â
"Obviously, KB and Hobby both produced a lot of points down low, which was something that we came in very intentional with. Dal had an unbelievable game at all three levels with scoring and just playing with such great energy. That set the tone for us.Â
"I'm happy with our response, not happy with the second quarter, and we'll keep on getting better one day at a time."
On players finding different ways to make an impact:
"I talk about it all the time. Make an impact. Find a way to make an impact. The first thing that someone asks you after a game or a parent will ask, what do they ask? 'How many points did you score?' It's not about that. How did you impact the game? If you do that defending, if you do that rebounding, if you do that diving on the floor for loose balls, if you do that from the bench being the best teammate and the loudest person cheering for your teammates from the bench, then you have impacted the game.Â
"We talk about it nonstop. In fact, I just talked about it yesterday with them. I talked about it after our last game. That is our culture, and when they're not doing it, it's my job as a leader to get them to do that. It's critical."
On always staying ready in the paint for teammates' passes:
"With Gen, she does have some crazy passes at times, so whenever she drives, I am always ready. My hands are up. I'm expecting it to come to me, even if she's halfway in the air. I'm just always ready for her passes."
On supporting her teammates, especially the underclassmen, even when she is on the bench:
"I love it. Over the summer, when we played pickup on our own, they're doing all these moves and dominating. Then, they would get to practice or in games, and they're scared to shoot. It's like, 'We see what you can do.' When they actually go out there and do it, when they have that confidence and you can see that confidence being built, I think it's great."
On her team-high 20-point performance:
"First, I just want to thank God because I keep experiencing His goodness. I'm just proud of my teammates and how they push me to be able to have a performance like that. I just want to help the team in whatever way I can. Coach Green pushes me every day for defense, and to be that defensive presence, I want to do that every game. I'm just proud overall."
On how her defense impacts her offensive production:
"Defense gives me so much energy to go and play some offense. It feels good getting stops, getting steals, and letting that translate to offense, so defense does give me a whole lot of energy in the game."
