CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois led by as many as 11 but came up short against No. 12 Ohio State, 67-59, at State Farm Center on Thursday night.
Kendall Bostic recorded her sixth double-double of the campaign, tallying 13 points and a season-high 18 boards while playing all 40 minutes for the first time in her career. Bostic reached the 10-rebound threshold less than four minutes into the second quarter, while five of her 18 boards came on the offensive glass. She also added two assists, one block, and two steals, her sixth game with multiple takeaways.
Makira Cook reached double figures for the 12th time this season, pouring in a team-high 16 points. Cook's seven rebounds marked her most in conference play this season, and she also dished out a team-high five assists, her third time in the last four games with at least five helpers.
Genesis Bryant tallied her ninth double-digit scoring outing in the last 10 games, finishing with 14 points after knocking down two 3-pointers. Bryant grabbed two steals and two rebounds, while she also made her first block of the season.
Adalia McKenzie notched seven points and two assists, while Camille Hobby amassed four points and six rebounds. Gretchen Dolan accounted for the team's five bench points.
The Fighting Illini outrebounded the Buckeyes, 42-34, including 15-11 on the offensive glass. The Orange and Blue capitalized on their dominance on the boards with 10 second-chance points.
After McKenzie tallied the Illini's first points, Cook scored Illinois' first two field goals of the night. With the Buckeyes holding a six-point advantage halfway through the opening quarter, the two sides traded baskets the rest of the way. Cook and McKenzie each recorded four points in the first period of play, though the Illini trailed, 18-13, after 10 minutes.
With Ohio State still maintaining a five-point edge in the second quarter, the Illini went on a 14-0 run over the span of six-and-a-half minutes. Bryant and Cook each tallied five points and Bostic grabbed her 10th rebound of the night during that stretch, which saw Illinois turn a five-point deficit into a nine-point advantage.
Holding Ohio State scoreless for over seven minutes in the frame, the Illini accounted for the final four points of the opening half to take a 33-22 lead into the break. The Orange and Blue held the Buckeyes to four points in the second quarter, Ohio State's fewest points scored in any quarter in program history. Cook led the way with a game-high 11 points in the first half, while five different Illini scorers registered points in the opening 20 minutes.
The Buckeyes began the second half on a 7-1 run to cut their deficit to five points, but the Illini soon responded with a scoring streak of their own. A 5-0 run, which included Bryant's second triple of the night, pushed the Illini advantage back to double digits three minutes into the frame.
After the visitors cut their deficit to one point, the Illini used a 6-2 run, including a Bryant steal and fast-break layup, to extend their lead back to five points. Leading the entirety of the third quarter, Illinois eventually took a 45-42 advantage into the final period of play.Â
A 12-0 Ohio State run put the away side in front by seven, but Cook brought the Illini's scoring drought to an end with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from near the halfcourt logo. Illinois cut its deficit to four points in the frame, but it was not enough to overcome the Buckeyes' big fourth quarter.
Illinois (8-10, 2-6 B1G) returns to State Farm Center on Sunday for the back half of its two-game homestand. The Illini will take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers for its annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day game, which will tip off at 2 p.m. CT on B1G+.
POSTGAME NOTES
Player Notes:
- Kendall Bostic registered her sixth double-double of the season with 13 points and a season-high 18 rebounds on 75% shooting.
- Bostic secured her seventh game this season with double-digit boards and her sixth consecutive game with at least seven rebounds.
- Reached the 10-rebound mark with 6:23 to play in the second quarter.
- Genesis Bryant recorded 14 points, two rebounds, two steals, and one block.
- Bryant tallied her 13th game this season in double figures.
- Has broken the 10-point mark nine times in her last 10 games.
- Bryant made her first block of the season, which came late in the fourth quarter.
- Her first block since Feb. 5, 2023, vs. Minnesota.
- Makira Cook amassed a team-high 16 points and dished out a team-most five assists.
- Cook has tallied double figures in 12 of her 15 appearances this season.
- Cook has now accumulated at least five assists in three of the last four games.
- Camille Hobby added four points, six rebounds, and one block.
- Recorded her seventh game this season with at least one swat.
Team Notes:
- Ohio State won the tip, and the Buckeyes also scored the first points of the night.
- Illinois had three scorers (Bryant, Cook, Bostic) in double figures.
- Illinois finished the first half on an 18-2 run and held the Buckeyes scoreless for over seven minutes in the second quarter.
- Illinois held Ohio State to only four points in the second quarter.
- The Illini outscored Ohio State, 20-4, in the second quarter
- First time this season the Buckeyes have been held to single digits in a quarter.
- Ohio State's four points were their fewest in any quarter in program history.
- Tied the Illini's fewest points allowed in any quarter this season.
- The Buckeyes were held without a field goal the last five minutes of the third quarter.
- The Illini outrebounded the Buckeyes, 42-34, and 15-11 on the offensive glass.Â
- Sixth game this season with at least 40 rebounds.
- Fifth time with at least 15 offensive rebounds this season.
- Team's 15 offensive boards were their second-most in conference play this season.
- The Illini held the Buckeyes to 67 points, their second-fewest this season.
Misc. Notes:
- Starters: Makira Cook, Genesis Bryant, Adalia McKenzie, Kendall Bostic, Camille Hobby
- This lineup is now 3-3 on the season.
- Shauna Green is now:
- 30-20 at Illinois
- 157-70 as a Division I coach
- 186-95 overall
- Illinois vs. Ohio State: 20-58 (78th meeting)
- Illinois is now 5-5 when wearing white uniforms this season.
- UI is now 6-4 in home games this season.
- The Illini are now 0-3 in games against teams ranked in the Associated Press top-25 poll this season.
- The Illini are now 4-2 in games starting after 5 p.m. CT this season.
- The Illini are now 2-4 in January.
QUOTES
Opening statement:
"I'd say for 30-some minutes, we played really great basketball, especially the first 20 minutes. That was some of the best basketball we've played. In the second quarter, I thought our defense was elite. We were locked in. We were on it and held them to four points.Â
"We knew that their pressure would ramp up in the third, just like it did last year, and we had 10 turnovers in the third quarter. They scored easy baskets out of it. Even after that, we were still right in the game and had chances. It just came down to they made some shots, and we missed some. I told the team in the locker room: We were 18-for-40 on shots in the paint. We can't miss those easy shots against a team of this caliber like Ohio State.Â
"They're really good, and we showed we can play with anyone in the country. We just have to be able to get to the point where we can get over that hump and put 40 minutes together instead of 30-some. You have to do that in order to beat a top-15 team. They're gonna be a top-10 team in the country by the end of the year.Â
"Obviously, we want to win basketball games. I hate to lose more than anything in the world, but I'm proud of a lot of things we did and how we competed. We need 40, and we're gonna get there."
On Bostic's performance:
"For a five player to be able to play 40 minutes and play that hard, I don't know if there's another five in the country that can do what she does for 40 minutes. It is absolutely remarkable. In the fourth, I'm like, 'KB, you good? You need a quick breather?' There was no way she wanted to come out of that game. I forget that she might need a break because she can go for so long. She was 6-for-8 from the field, 18 rebounds, 13 points. She had a great, great day."
On the team's mentality eight games into conference play:
"I really try to look at the positive side of all this because you have to. We've never quit because we still believe. We know we're playing with all these top teams. We know we're right there, and at some point, it's going to all come together. I continue to believe that, I truly believe that, and our team truly believes that.Â
"My job as a leader is to continue to be positive, to set the tone, to find new ways to get them to execute on the stuff that we're not executing on, and to continue to keep them together as a team."
On the team's dominant second quarter:
"We prepped really hard all week for this game. It was very detailed. There were a lot of little things that were kind of inserted into the scout. I think that was the best execution of the scout we've had. I think our second quarters are usually pretty good.
"In the second, I feel like we just really were feeling it. Everybody was flowing. Gen and Makira were hitting shots. Hobby and I were getting rebounds. Everybody was everywhere, and I think everybody was gelling really well."
