#22/23 Fighting Illini Close Five-Game Homestand on Friday Night Against Oregon State

#22/23 Illinois vs. Oregon State - Friendsgiving
Date | Time	Friday, Nov. 22, 2024 | 7 p.m. CT
Location	Champaign, Ill. | State Farm Center
Tickets	Buy Now | Single Game
Promotions	Friendsgiving | Season-ticket holders can redeem a free ticket for a friend
Digital Game Programs	All Publications | Oregon State Game
Watch	B1G+ | B1G+ App | WATCH
Radio	Busey Bank Illini Sports Network | Listen | Varsity Network App
Live Stats	StatBroadcast
Rosters	Illinois | Oregon State
Stats	Illinois | Oregon State
Game Notes	Illinois | Oregon State | Big Ten
Record Books	Illinois | Big Ten WBB | NCAA WBB
Availability/Interviews	Oregon State Pregame Availability (11/21/24) | YouTube Playlist
Shop	Online Store | Auctions
Social Media	@IlliniWBB  | @IlliniWBB  | Facebook  | YouTube

Head Coach Shauna Green

Career Record: 201-100 (.668), 11th season
Division I Record: 172-75 (.696), Ninth season
At Illinois: 45-25 (.643), Third season
Big Ten Record: 19-17 (.528), Third season

LIVE STREAM

Fans unable to attend Friday night's contest can watch No. 22/23 Illinois vs. Oregon State online by purchasing a subscription to B1G+, a streaming service of non-televised events produced by the Big Ten Network in partnership with the Big Ten Conference schools.

Fans who sign up can choose either the monthly rate of $12.99 or the annual rate of $89.99. The B1G+ subscription includes access to live streaming of non-televised games, next day on-demand archives, and access to Big Ten Network's library of Illinois' previous season classics and originals.

The 13 remaining women's basketball games are slated to be streamed via B1G+:
» Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. vs. Bradley
» Dec. 15 at 1 p.m. vs. Southern Indiana
» Dec. 20 at 12 p.m. vs. Southern
» Dec. 28 at 2 p.m. vs. Oregon
» Jan. 5 at 2 p.m. at Minnesota
» Jan. 9 at 6 p.m. vs. Iowa
» Jan. 19  at 2 p.m. vs. Michigan State
» Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. at Rutgers
» Feb. 2 at 12 p.m. at Maryland
» Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. vs. Northwestern
» Feb. 9 at 3 p.m. at Wisconsin
» Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. vs. Penn State
» March 2 at 2 p.m. vs. Michigan

OPENING TIP

The 51st campaign of Illinois women's basketball continues with No. 22/23 Illinois hosting Oregon State on Friday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m. CT on B1G+ from State Farm Center. Mike Koon will call the action for the Illini on the Busey Bank Illini Sports Network (1400 AM / 93.9 FM). Streaming, audio, and stats links are also available at FightingIllini.com/wbb. 

• Illinois has earned a win over a ranked opponent for the third consecutive season under Green.
• The Fighting Illini have now been ranked in the Top 25 in all three seasons under Green.
• Illinois returns four 1,000-career point scorers, tied for the most in the NCAA with Baylor, Notre Dame, and Kansas State.
• Illinois' seniors (Cook, Bryant, McKenzie, Shoup-Hill, Bostic) have a combined 373 career starts (347 at Illinois) and played a combined 515 games (387 at Illinois).
• Illinois has led for a total of 155:37 this season through three games, while only trailing for 44 seconds.
• Head coach Shauna Green earned her 200th win as a head coach on Nov. 14, 2024 vs. Eastern Illinois.
• The Illini have held opponents at/below 15 points in 12 of 16 regulation periods.
• Illinois is looking to start the season 5-0 for the second time under head coach Shauna Green.
• Seven different Illini scorers have posted double-digit points in a game this season: Bostic, Bryant, Brown-Hagger, Cook, Dolan, McKenzie, Shoup-Hill. McKenzie is the only Illini to do so in all four games.
• The Fighting Illini return eight players from last year's WBIT Championship team while adding six newcomers - four freshmen and two transfers - into the mix.

ABOUT THE OPPONENT

Oregon State arrives in Champaign on a two-game skid while holding a 1-3 record. After advancing to the Elite 8 at the 2024 NCAA Tournament, the new-look Beavers have begun the 2024-25 campaign with losses to Colorado State (Nov. 8), Minnesota (Nov. 16), and Arizona State (Nov. 17) along with a victory against Northwest Nazarene (Nov. 12).

ALL-TIME SERIES INFORMATION

Friday's game marks the second meeting in the all-time series between the Fighting Illini and the Beavers. Illinois won the lone contest between the sides, a 65-60 road victory on Dec. 8, 1996.

RANKED ILLINI

Fighting Illini women's basketball is ranked in the Associated Press Top-25 Poll for the second consecutive week, coming in at No. 22 in the Week 2 listing. At the time of the Week 2 release, Illinois owned a 3-0 record before improving to 4-0 a few hours later.

Illinois has been ranked in seven combined AP polls under Green. In 2022-23, the Illini appeared in four Top-25 polls, followed by the preseason rankings in 2023-24, and most recently the Week 1 and 2 polls in 2024-25.

The Illini have now appeared in 70 AP polls all-time across 11 different seasons.

Green joins Naismith Hall of Famer Theresa Grentz as the only two coaches in program history to lead their teams to AP Top-25 ranking appearances in three-straight seasons. The last time Illinois was ranked in three straight seasons was a five season-span from 1996-97 through 2000-01.

The highest Illinois has been ranked under Green is No. 21, coming in the Week 11 poll (Jan. 16) of the 2022-23 campaign.

ALL-TIME FIELD TRIP DAY GAMES

Illinois has hosted the promotional event every season besides the COVID year since 2016-17.

DOMINANCE AGAINST THE DOLPHINS

In front of the third-largest crowd in program history, Illinois cruised to a 94-25 victory over Le Moyne on Field Trip Day on Monday afternoon. A crowd of 13,486 fans filled the stands at State Farm Center to watch the Illini post a dominant 69-point victory over the visiting Dolphins.

Illinois' 69-point margin of victory was the fourth-largest mark in program history, while the Illini's 25 points allowed were the fewest-ever in a home game.

Four Illini scorers finished in double figures: Kendall Bostic (25 pts, 12 reb), Gretchen Dolan (15 pts, 7 ast), Adalia McKenzie (14 pts, 5 ast, 5 reb), and Jasmine Brown-Hagger (13 pts, 4 ast). All 10 players who dressed for the game earned playing time in the win. The squad combined for 26 assists.

TOP HOME ATTENDANCES

Fighting Illini head coach Shauna Green has reenergized the women's basketball fan base and delivered two of the top five home attendances in program history through just 70 games at Illinois. Green's teams have drawn attendances of 13,486, 11,563, and 8,141 across the last three seasons - all three are in the top 13 of all-time largest home game attendances for the program.

The 2024 game vs. Le Moyne that drew 13,486 fans set a new single-game attendance record for home nonconference games at Illinois.

COACH GREEN SECURES 200TH CAREER WIN

Fighting Illini women's basketball head coach Shauna Green won the 200th game of her career on Nov. 14, 2024, with an 84-37 victory over Eastern Illinois. Of the 200 wins, Green won 44 of those as the head coach at Illinois. Green tallied 127 victories at Dayton (2016-22) and the first 29 tallies came during her tenure at Loras College (2005-07).

In terms of wins with her current assistant coaches, 126 victories came with DeAntoine "Cat" Beasley on the bench, followed by 123 with Calamity McEntire, 22 alongside Britney Anderson, 22 with Emily Durr as an assistant (70 total with her on staff), and three of those wins were accompanied by Liza Fruendt.

PUMMELING THE PANTHERS

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 Nov. 14 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. 

Illinois' defense held EIU to just an 8.0% shooting mark from 3-point range. The Illini held their first three opponents of season to a combined 17.1% from 3-point range, the lowest defensive 3-point percentage since the 1994-95 season (12.5%, 2-of-16).

ILLINOIS SOARS PAST MARQUETTE TO IMPROVE TO 2-0

Illinois used a strong defensive showing to defeat Marquette, 65-53, at State Farm Center on Nov. 10. Despite struggling offensively, the Illini held the visiting Golden Eagles to 35.8% from the field and 20% from 3-point range in the 12-point home win.

Genesis Bryant scored 15 of her team-high 16 points in the second half, while Adalia McKenzie and Brynn Shoup-Hill also both finished in double figures. The Orange and Blue forced 16 turnovers while going 31-for-35 from the free-throw line.

FINDING SUCCESS AT THE FREE-THROW LINE

The Illini attempted at least 25 free throws in each of their first three games, going 23-for-31 against #19 Florida State on Nov. 7, 31-for-35 vs. Marquette on Nov. 10, and 13-for-25 vs. EIU on Nov. 14. As of Nov. 17, Illinois is second in the Big Ten and ranks 12th in the nation with 25.75 free-throw attempts per game. The Fighting Illini are eighth in the NCAA with 19.5 made free throws per game (78-of-103).

The two-game stretch to open the season marked the first time since at least the 2007-08 season that Illinois has attempted at least 30 foul shots in consecutive games. 

ILLINOIS OPENS REGULAR SEASON WITH RANKED WIN

The Fighting Illini started the 2024-25 season with a statement win, taking down No. 19/19 Florida State, 83-74, at State Farm Center on Nov. 7. Four Illini scored in double figures in the ranked nine-point win, including 20-point outings for both Makira Cook and Adalia McKenzie, while the home side never trailed in the contest.

Kendall Bostic (18 points) and Gretchen Dolan (11 points) also finished with double-digit points, which helped the Illini pick up a ranked win for the third consecutive season.

BOSTIC REACHES 1,000 CAREER REBOUNDS

Kendall Bostic became the fourth player in program history to reach 1,000 career rebounds with the Illini, achieving the feat during Illinois' 83-74 victory over No. 19 Florida State on Thursday night. Bostic joined Jenna Smith (1,217), Karisma Penn (1,043), and Cindy Dallas (1,014) on the exclusive list.

RANKED WINS CONTINUE TO ROLL IN

With the Illini's 83-74 season-opening victory over No. 19 Florida State on Nov. 7, Illinois has now registered a win over a ranked opponent for the third consecutive season, the longest streak since the 2005-06, 2006-07, and 2007-08 campaigns.

The streak began on Jan. 1, 2023, when the Illini took down No. 12 Iowa, 90-86, for the program's first ranked win since 2019. Illinois defeated No. 16 Indiana on Feb. 19, 2024, in dominant fashion, 86-66, before Illinois' win over the Seminoles solidified that three-season streak.

FLYING PAST THE FLYERS - EXHIBITION

Illinois opened its 2024-25 slate with an exhibition victory over Lewis, 80-53, on Nov. 1 at State Farm Center. Three Fighting Illini student-athletes scored in double figures, including a game-high 22-point effort from Kendall Bostic. All 12 Illini dressed for the game saw action. Attendance was called at 3,556. Green is 3-0 in exhibition games at Illinois.

PRESEASON WATCH LISTS

All three returning fifth-year Illini players landed on Naismith Award position watch lists ahead of the 2024-25 campaign. Makira Cook (Point Guard), Genesis Bryant (Shooting Guard), and Kendall Bostic (Power Forward) each earned spots on the respective 20-player lists. Cook also was recognized to the Jersey Mike's Naismith Women's Player of the Year Watch List and Preseason All-Big Ten list for the second-consecutive year. 

Freshman Berry Wallace was named to Shane Laflin's (Premier Basketball/ESPNW) 2024 NCAA Expected Impact Freshman List, featuring 10 college newcomers.

1,000 POINT SCORERS & REBOUNDING

Entering the 2024-25 campaign, Illinois has four players with 1,000+ career points scored. Makira Cook and Adalia McKenzie have surpassed 1,000 points in their time at Illinois, while Genesis Bryant and Kendall Bostic are within 50 points of achieving the feat as Illini.

To date, 32 Fighting Illini players have scored 1,000 points during their career at Illinois, and only three players have scored 1,000 points and grabbed 1,000 rebounds at Illinois. Kendall Bostic became the fourth player in program history to register 1,000 career rebounds as an Illini, joining an exclusive list that features Jenna Smith (1,217), Karisma Penn (1,043), and Cindy Dallas (1,014).

THE SHAUNA GREEN EFFECT

The Illini's 41 overall wins in Green's first two seasons were the program's most over a two-year span since the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 campaigns, when Illinois recorded 42 combined victories under Hall of Fame coach Theresa Grentz.

Illinois' 19 Big Ten regular-season victories over Green's first two seasons are the program's most over a two-year span since the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 campaigns, when Illinois totaled 20 conference wins under Hall of Fame coach Theresa Grentz. 

INAUGURAL WBIT CHAMPIONS

Illinois clinched the inaugural WBIT title in a 71-57 victory over Villanova at Hinkle Fieldhouse on April 3, 2024. The victory marked the program's first-ever postseason title.

After totaling five points through the first two quarters due to foul trouble, Makira Cook registered a game-high 27 points by pouring in 22 points in the second half. Shooting 7-for-11 from the floor over the final 20 minutes, Cook would be named the WBIT's Most Outstanding Player.

Genesis Bryant tallied 17 points in the championship and also finished the night with five rebounds and four assists. Kendall Bostic clinched a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds. All three seniors would be named to the WBIT All-Tournament Team and announce their decisions to return as fifth-years at Illinois.

Illinois was the only team in the WBIT field to win a game at home, on the road, and at a neutral site.

HOME ATTENDANCE NUMBERS

Across 15 home games during the 2022-23 season, Illinois Women's Basketball saw 52,295 fans fill the State Farm Center en route to a 12-3 record. That total attendance ranked 5th in program history and made Shauna Green the only head coach to bring in 50,000 or more fans in her first season with the Illini.

In Illinois' 2023-24 season - and home - opener, the attendance of 2,680 marked the largest ticketed season-opening crowd at State Farm Center since 2000 (3,954). In the Illini's 17 home games last season, Illinois finished with a combined attendance of 63,242 for an average of 3,720 a game. 63,242 is now the fifth-best all-time attendance.

Illinois' season-opener against Florida State drew a crowd of 3,741 to surpass last year's season-opening mark by over 1,000 fans. With 13,486 fans in attendance for Field Trip Day on Nov. 18, Illinois' season average is up to 6,155 per game.

CONTRACT EXTENSION

Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman announced a two-year contract extension for women's basketball head coach Shauna Green, which was approved by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees at its Nov. 14 meeting. Initially, the new agreement will keep Green on a six-year contract through at least the 2029-30 season. The agreement also provides Green the opportunity to earn up to four additional one-year extensions if certain performance thresholds are met.

Under Green, Illinois owns a 45-25 record, including a 19-17 mark in Big Ten play. In the first two years under Green, the Illinois women's basketball team registered 41 wins, the first-ever postseason championship in program history (2024 WBIT), and back-to-back top-five season attendances in State Farm Center. Over the last three seasons, Illinois has delivered three upsets of AP Top-20 ranked teams: No. 12 Iowa (1/1/23), No. 14 Indiana (2/19/24), and No. 19 Florida State (11/7/24).

FOREIGN TRIP

From August 2-12, the Illinois women's basketball team traveled to Europe for a foreign tour of Italy and Greece. The Fighting Illini grew on and off the court with exhibition games, educational tours, excursions, local cuisine, and authentic experiences on the schedule.

The WBIT championship run into April, 10 additional summer practices, and international exhibition games added extra opportunities for the team to grow and gel. 

On Aug. 4, the Illini earned a 67-65 victory over the Spain & Italy Select Team at a neutral court in Ponte Buggianese, Italy. Game two of the Illinois women's basketball foreign tour saw the Illini earn a 106-42 victory at Amilla Peristeriou on Aug. 9. The win moved the Fighting Illini to 2-0 on the trip, and Shauna Green is now 5-0 as the head coach in foreign tour games.

PRO ILLINI

Illinois women's basketball is represented at the professional level across multiple continents. Former Illini center Camille Hobby joined the professional ranks after spending her fifth year of college at Illinois. Hobby plays for PAOK in Greece. Adrienne Williams Godbold, a guard at Illinois from 2009-13, plays in the Puerto Rican BSNF for Hatillo. Brandi Beasley, a guard at Illinois from 2016-20, plays for CJS Geispolsheim in France. Brittany Carter, who played at Illinois from 2014-15, now plays for GIE Cibao Immortals in the Dominican Republic and was the 2024 league MVP. Rebecca Harris, a guard at Illinois from 2006-08, plays for the Bay Area Phoenix in the Women's Premier Basketball Association (WPBA), helping them to a championship. Harris has also played in the Athletes Unlimited League.