Fast Start, Dominant Defense Guide #23/24 Illinois Past EIU

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 23-ranked Fighting Illini continued their strong start to the season with a dominant 84-37 win over Eastern Illinois at State Farm Center on Thursday night.

Four Illinois student-athletes scored in double figures in the 47-point victory over the in-state Panthers.

The Orange and Blue never trailed in the contest, while head coach Shauna Green, who won the 200th game of her head-coaching career, used the contest to give playing time to the nine players who were dressed, all of whom made at least one field goal.

Jasmine Brown-Hagger led the Illini in scoring with a career-high 23 points off the bench while shooting 10-for-15 from the field. Brown-Hagger also grabbed five rebounds, dished out two assists, and made one steal.

Gretchen Dolan also set a new career-best scoring output with a career-high 13 points while pouring in two 3-pointers. Dolan also amassed four assists, two rebounds, one block, and one steal.

Kendall Bostic recorded her first double-double of the season with 11 points and 12 rebounds, including four boards on the offensive glass. She also dished out two assists.

Adalia McKenzie reached double figures in scoring for the third consecutive game to begin her senior campaign while going a perfect 5-for-5 from the field. Scoring all 11 of her points in the first half, she also tallied two rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal.  

Genesis Bryant tallied multiple 3-pointers for the first time this season, connecting from deep twice en route to a nine-point, four-assist, and two-steal performance.

Brynn Shoup-Hill added nine points, seven rebounds, and two blocks.

The Illini accounted for the game's first six points of the night, holding EIU scoreless for over four minutes to start the contest. Illinois' advantage moved into double figures for the first time less than one minute later before Brynn Shoup-Hill rattled in the Orange and Blue's first 3-pointer of the night. Shooting 8-for-14 from the field across the first 10 minutes, the Illini took a 19-7 edge into the start of the second period of play.

Brown-Hagger scored five-straight points before Dolan knocked down a 3-pointer to cap off an 8-0 Illini run across the first 68 seconds of the second quarter. After the Panthers tallied their first points of the frame, an 8-2 scoring stretch for the hosts brought the Orange and Blue's edge up to 37-11. The Illini took that same 26-point advantage, 41-15, into the break after holding EIU to only six field goals in the first half.

Illinois shot 15-for-26 from the field through the first 20 minutes of the game, and the Illini held a 22-9 edge on the boards at halftime.

The Orange and Blue began the second half with an 8-0 run to move their lead above the 30-point mark for the first time. The Illini held the Panthers without a field goal for the final 5:22 of the third quarter, going on a 16-2 during that stretch to extend their lead to 70-25 with 10 minutes remaining.

A 7-2 Illini run to open the final frame pushed the home side's advantage up to 77-27 with just under seven minutes remaining. Illinois' lead never dropped below the 45-point mark in the quarter, and the Orange and Blue closed out the victory to remain undefeated on the season.

Illinois (3-0) will host its annual Field Trip Day at State Farm Center on Monday at 11 a.m. CT, with the Fighting Illini taking on Le Moyne. Admission is free.

HIGHLIGHTS

PRESS CONFERENCE

POSTGAME NOTES

Player Notes:

• Genesis Bryant scored nine points and dished out four assists.
  • Is 15 points away from 1,000 scored as an Illini.
• Brynn Shoup-Hill scored nine points and secured nine rebounds.
  • Second game this season with at least nine rebounds…had just three such games in her first 56 as an Illini.
  • Recorded two blocks…second game this season with two blocks.
• Adalia McKenzie scored 11 points, going a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor.
  • Scored in double figures for the third consecutive contest.
  • Was the first Illini scorer to reach the 10-point mark, which she achieved with 6:58 remaining in the second quarter.
• Kendall Bostic registered a double-double by scoring 11 points and grabbing 12 boards. Bostic also added two assists.
  • Now has 1,025 rebounds in her career, passing Cindy Dallas (1,014) for third all-time in program history with her second board of the game. 
    • Jenna Smith - 1,217 (2006-10)
    • Karisma Penn - 1,043 (2009-13)
    • Kendall Bostic - 1,025 (2021-pres.)
  • Recorded her second double-digit rebound game of the season and the 56th such game of her career.
  • Posted the 35th double-double of her Illinois career…first of the season.
• Gretchen Dolan scored a career-high 13 points while adding four assists.
  • Made her first-career start tonight.
  • Scored in double figures for the second time this season and for the sixth time in her career.
• Jasmine Brown-Hagger poured in a game-high 23 points off of the bench while adding five rebounds and two assists.
  • Posted a career-best 23 points, marking the first time she has surpassed the 20-point mark in her collegiate career. 
  • First Illini off the bench, checking in with 3:24 left in the first.
  • Went 10-for-15 from the floor, which included a 3-for-5 mark from behind the arc, which matched her career high.
• Cori Allen scored four points off of the bench.
  • First Illini off the bench, checking in with 3:24 left in the first.
• Hayven Smith scored two points and secured six rebounds off of the bench.
  • Made her Illini debut with 1:07 left in the first.
• Mia Zenere scored two points and also added a steal.
  • Made her Illini debut with 2:25 left in the third.
  • Scored her first points as an Illini with 1:30 left in the game.

Team Notes:

• The Illini won the opening trip and scored on their first possession via a Bostic layup.
• Illinois opened the contest with a 6-0 run while holding EIU scoreless for over four minutes to start the game.
  • The Illini began the game on a 12-2 run across the first 5:26 of play.
• Illinois held EIU to just 15 points in the first half, the fewest points allowed in the first half by the Illini since holding McNeese State to 12 points on Nov. 16, 2022.
• The Illini held EIU to 0-for-10 from the floor over the final 4:44 of the third quarter.
  • The Panthers scored just two points during that span from the free throw line and did not score over the final 2:23 of the period.
• Illinois did not allow an EIU player to score in double figures.
  • First time the Illini defense performed such a feat since Nov. 15, 2023, vs. St. Peter's.
• Illinois limited EIU to just 15-for-62 from the floor (24.2%), the lowest mark by an Illini opponent this season.
  • First time the Orange and Blue have held an opponent to under 25% from the floor since Nov. 15, 2023, vs. St. Peter's (21.8%)
• The Illini defense held the Panthers to 2-for-25 from deep.
  • Opponents are shooting just 17.1% (12-70) from behind the line this season.
  • Fewest makes by an Illinois opponent on at least 25 3-point attempts since McNeese State went 2-for-25 on Nov. 16, 2022.
• Illinois had four players score in double figures (Bostic, Brown-Hagger, Dolan, McKenzie).
  • Overall, all nine players that saw the floor tonight scored.
• The Illini won the rebounding battle 44-27, including a 14-13 edge on the offensive glass.
  • Converted those 14 o-boards into 17 second-chance points.
• The Illini registered a season-high nine 3-pointers.
• Illinois forced 12 turnovers in the contest, scoring 25 points off of those turnovers.
  • The Illini also forced the Panthers into four shot-clock violations.
• The Illini never trailed in the contest, taking their first lead 11 seconds into the game and never looking back.
  • Illinois has led for a total of 115:55 this season through two games, while only trailing for 44 seconds.

Misc. Notes:

• Head coach Shauna Green registered the 200th win of her head-coaching career.
• Starters: Genesis Bryant, Gretchen Dolan, Adalia McKenzie, Brynn Shoup-Hill,  Kendall Bostic
  • This lineup is now 1-0 on the season.
  • This is the first time this unit has started together
• Shauna Green is now:
  • 44-25 at Illinois
  • 171-75 as a Division-I coach
  • 200-100 overall
• Illinois vs. Eastern Illinois: 11-5 (16th meeting)
  • Shauna Green's coaching record vs. Eastern Illinois: 1-0
• The Illini have held opponents at/below 15 points in 8 of 12 regulation periods.
• Illinois is now 3-0 when wearing white uniforms this season.
• The Illini are now 3-0 in games starting after 5 p.m. CT this season.
• The Illini are now 3-0 in November.
  • Second 3-0 start under Shauna Green.
    • Only Theresa Grentz (3) had more 3-0 starts in program history.
• Attendance was called at 3,645.

            Score after 1st Quarter: 19-07
            Score at Halftime: 41-15 (22-08 Q2)
            Score after 3rd Quarter: 70-25 (29-10 Q3)
            Score after 4th Quarter: 84-37 (14-12 Q4)