CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - After returning to the Associated Press Top 25 Poll for the first time in over 20 years earlier this season, Illinois Women's Basketball has returned to the rankings this week, coming in tied for 25th in the latest poll.

Illinois is off to a 20-7 start under first year head coach Shauna Green, one of the best starts in program history. Illinois is up to a 10-6 record in the Big Ten, which ties the squad for fifth in league's standings as of Feb. 21.

The Fighting Illini program has appeared in 67 AP Polls total across nine different seasons now. Shauna Green joins Theresa Grentz, Laura Golden and Jane Schroeder as Illini coaches to led a ranked Illinois squad. Green is the lone coach to achieve a Top-25 ranking in her first year leading the program.

The complete Feb. 20, 2023 AP Rankings can be viewed HERE.

NOTES (AS OF 2/20/23)

• Illinois has secured a 20-win season for the first time since the 2007-08 campaign.
• With a 10-6 record in league play, Illinois has reached double-digit Big Ten wins for the first time since winning 11 during the 1999-00 season.
• With 20 wins, the Illini have more wins than any season since 2007-08 and have secured a winning record for the first time since 2012-13 (19-14).
• As of the day of the poll, Illinois owned a NET ranking of 35th – up 174 spots from a year ago.
• Illinois is 12-2 at home this season with one game to go - already matching the sixth-most wins in a season when playing at home.
• The Illini have seen notable success on the road as well, owning wins at Pitt, Butler, Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Northwestern and Nebraska to match the program's most road wins since the 2012-13 campaign (7).
• Shauna Green has implemented a defensive mentality that has helped lead the program's resurgence – opponents are averaging 64.7 PPG (188th NCAA, 3rd B1G), 27.6% rate from 3-point range (33rd NCAA, 1st B1G), and 39.6% from the field (152nd NCAA, 5th B1G). 
• The Illinois offense has been just as lethal – UI is averaging 77.1 PPG (25^th NCAA, 6^th B1G), 38.3% rate from 3-point range (6th NCAA, 1^st B1G), and 45.9% from the field (23rd NCAA, 5^th B1G).
• The Illini's scoring and rebounding margins have been remarkable under Shauna Green so far. Illinois' rebounding margin sits at 7.0, which ranks 35^th in the nation and 1^st in the Big Ten. With a scoring margin of 12.5, Illinois ranks 33rd overall and 4th in the Big Ten.