Four Illini Score Double Digits in Illinois' 93-52 Victory at Northwestern

EVANSTON, Ill. -- All 14 Illini saw action with 12 scoring in the Fighting Illini's 93-52 victory at Northwestern on Sunday. Illinois registered a season-best 25 assists to assist on 76 percent of made field goals en route to its first Big Ten victory of the season. 

Kendall Bostic collected a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds for the 23rd double-double of her career, which moved her into a tie for ninth on the Illinois all-time list.

In addition to Bostic's double-double, the Fighting Illini (7-8, 1-4) were led by Camille Hobby, who had 19 points and seven rebounds, and by Makira Cook, who added 18 points and seven assists. Genesis Bryant was the fourth Illini in double-digit scoring, finishing with 15 points.

Illinois out-rebounded Northwestern 47-36 in Sunday's game, paced by Bostic's 13 boards. The Fighting Illini also collected 16 offensive rebounds and scored 12 second chance points. Illinois matched its season-low with just seven turnovers while forcing 13 by the Wildcats.

Illinois' defense held Northwestern to only 26.9% shooting from the field.

How It Happened

After playing to a 4-4 tie early in the game, Illinois went on a 7-0 run with 5:49 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Hobby, to take an 11-4 lead and never looked back. The Fighting Illini pushed ahead and entered the quarter break with a 20-11 advantage. Illinois did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring 10 of its 20 points close to the basket. Hobby talled 11 points in the opening frame.

Illinois built that first quarter lead to 25-13 before going on a 13-0 run starting at the 7:28 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Bostic, to increase its lead to 38-13. The Wildcats cut into that lead, but the Fighting Illini still enjoyed a 45-21 advantage heading into halftime. Illinois was strong from deep in the quarter, knocking down four 3-pointers to account for 12 of its 25 points.

Following intermission, Illinois continued to expand its advantage, pushing it to 50-25 before going on an 8-0 run, punctuated by another basket from Bostic, to expand its lead further to 58-25 with 5:24 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Wildcats had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Fighting Illini still entered the fourth quarter with a 67-36 edge. Illinois played well near the basket, scoring 12 of its 22 points in the paint.

Illinois kept its foot on the pedal heading into the fourth quarter, going on an 11-0 run to push the lead to 78-36 with 6:53 to go in the contest. The Wildcats narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Fighting Illini still cruised the rest of the way for the 93-52 win. Illinois got a boost from its bench in the period, with non-starters scoring 13 of its 26 total points in the frame.

Postgame Notes

Player Notes:

• Kendall Bostic tallied 11 points and 13 rebounds for her 5th double-double of the season.
  • Bostic is up to 23 career double-doubles, which ties her for 9th on Illinois' career list.
• Camille Hobby scored eight points by the game's first media timeout (3:51) and would finish with 19 points. 
  • Hobby connected on a 3-pointer with 1:13 left in the first quarter for her first trey as an Illini. She scored 11 points in the opening quarter.
• Genesis Bryant tallied 15 points for her 10th double-digit effort this season.
• Makira Cook scored 18 points for the 5th time in her last 6 games.
  • Cook also recorded a team-high seven assists, her second-most in a game this season.

Team Notes:

• Illinois won the tip but Northwestern scored first.
• The Illini went on a 13-0 run in the second quarter (7:28 to 3:59) to extend the team's advantage from 25-13 to 38-13.
• Four Illini finished with double-digit points.
• All 14 Illini saw the court in the win.
  • This is the second time this season that all 14 players have registered minutes in a game.
• The Illini outrebounded the Wildcats, 47-36.
• The Illinois defense forced 13 turnovers and scored 19 points off those takeaways.
• Illinois cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 16 offensive boards in the game.
  • The Illini scored 12 second-chance points off those offensive rebounds.
• The Illini won the battle in the paint, 40-22.
• The Illini totaled 29 fast-break points.
• The Illini's 25 assists are their most in a game this season.
  • The team's 25 assists are their most since registering 26 on Nov. 21, 2015, against UT Martin
  • The team's 25 assists are their most against a conference opponent since totaling 27 on Nov. 5, 2015
  • The Illini tallied an assist on 25 of their 33 field goals.
    • Eight different players recorded an assist in the win.
• The Illini's seven turnovers match their fewest in a game this season.
• 93 points are the program's most in a Big Ten game since the Illini scored 95 on Feb. 5, 2015, vs. Minnesota
  • The Illini's 93 points are their most in a conference road game since Feb. 14, 1999, when they scored 104 in a win at Indiana
• The Illini's 93 points are the most they have ever scored against Northwestern in series history, which has included 86 total games
  • The team's 93 points are the third-highest total by either team in series history (Northwestern totaled 95 in 1982 and 1995)
• Illinois' 41-point margin of victory is their largest in Big Ten play since Feb. 15, 1998, when the Illini beat Michigan State, 98-51 (+47)
  • Illinois' 41-point margin of victory over the Wildcats is the largest by either team in series history.
• The Illini's 41-point victory is their second-largest margin of victory in a true road game in program history.
  • The 41-point margin of victory against Northwestern is their largest in a true road game since Dec. 6, 2014, when the Illini beat Southern Illinois on the road by 44 points, 86-42.

Misc Notes:

• Starters: Makira Cook, Genesis Bryant, Adalia McKenzie, Kendall Bostic, Camille Hobby
  • This lineup is now 2-1 on the season.
• Shauna Green is now:
  • 29-18 at Illinois
  • 156-68 as a Division I coach
  • 185-93 overall
• Illinois vs. Northwestern: 37-49 (86th meeting)
  • Shauna Green coaching record vs. Northwestern: 3-1
• Illinois is now 2-1 when wearing blue uniforms this season.
• UI is now 1-3 in true road games this season.
• The Illini are now 4-7 in games starting before 5 p.m. CT this season.
• The Illini are now 1-2 in January.

This article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.