EAST LANSING, Mich. – In the team's final regular-season road game of the season, Illinois fell to Michigan State, 87-70, at the Breslin Center on Thursday night.
Kendall Bostic recorded her fourth consecutive double-double, totaling a team-high 21 points and 10 rebounds. Going 9-for-10 from the field in the final two periods of play, Bostic scored all 21 of her points in the second half, and she accounted for 12 of the Illini's 16 third-quarter points. She also amassed two assists, one block, and one steal.
Adalia McKenzie scored 14 points, 10 of which came in the first half. Reaching the double-digit mark on a buzzer-beating layup at the end of the second quarter, McKenzie secured her 16th game this season with at least 10 points. She also grabbed four rebounds, including two on the offensive glass, dished out two assists, and made one steal.
Makira Cook reached double figures for the 12th time in her last 13 games, finishing with 15 points while racking up eight assists, her second-best mark this season. Cook also notched four rebounds, and one steal.
Genesis Bryant registered at least one 3-pointer for the 16th time in her last 17 games, and she ended her night with seven points. She added three boards and one steal.
Camille Hobby was credited with three steals, while Brynn Shoup-Hill went 2-for-2 from the floor en route to a six-point performance off the bench. Shay Bollin knocked down a 3-pointer in the second quarter, her seventh game this season with a trey.
Illinois (13-14, 7-10 B1G) closes its regular-season campaign on Sunday, when the Illini host Nebraska on Senior Day. Tipoff from State Farm Center in Champaign is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT, and the game will air nationally on Big Ten Network.
POSTGAME NOTES
Player Notes:
- Makira Cook registered 15 points and dished out eight assists.
- Secured double-digit points for the 20th time this season.
- Hit double figures on a layup with 8:15 remaining in the third quarter.
- She is now just 10 points away from 1,500 career points.
- Her eight assists were a team-high tally and one shy of her season-best total.
- Adalia McKenzie finished with 14 points, four rebounds, and two assists.
- Scored in double figures for the 16th time this season.
- Reached the double-digit point mark with a buzzer-beating layup at the end of the second quarter.
- Had a team-high 10 points in the first half.
- McKenzie is now just 11 points away from 1,000 across her career.Â
- Kendall Bostic tallied a game-high 21 points and 10 rebounds for her 29th career double-double.
- Tallied her team-leading 21st game with double-digit points.
- Scored 12 points of the Illini's 16 third-quarter points.
- Reached the 20-point scoring mark for the second time this season and for just the fourth time in her career.
- Bostic's showing was her first double-double and most points scored against her former team.
- Camille Hobby grabbed three steals.
- Has multiple steals for the third time this season.
- One shy of her season-high and career-best tally.
- Brynn Shoup-Hill's six points off the bench were her first points since Jan. 17 against Rutgers.
Team Notes:
- Michigan State won the tip, and the Spartans opened the scoring.
- Three Illini scorers finished in double figures (Bostic, Cook, McKenzie).
- Illinois opened the second half on a 6-0 run, holding the Spartans scoreless for the first 2:44 of the third quarter.
- The Illini outscored Michigan State, 44-31, in the second half.
- Illinois outscored the Spartans, 28-13, through the final 10 minutes while shooting 64.7% from the field during that span.
- The Orange and Blue's 28 points in the fourth quarter were the most points scored in any quarter by a visiting team at the Breslin Center this season.
- Illinois held Michigan State to 13 points in the fourth quarter, marking the 51st time the Illini have held their opponent at/under 15 points in a period this season.
Misc. Notes:
- Starters: Makira Cook, Genesis Bryant, Adalia McKenzie, Kendall Bostic, Camille Hobby
- This lineup is now 8-7 on the season.
- Shauna Green is now:
- 35-24 at Illinois
- 162-74 as a Division-I coach
- 191-99 overall
- Illinois vs. Michigan State: 28-46 (74th meeting)
- Illinois is now 4-4 when wearing blue uniforms this season.
- The Illini are 1-8 in nationally televised contests this season.
- UI is now 3-7 in true road games this season.
- The Illini are now 7-4 in games starting after 5 p.m. CT this season.
- The Illini are now 3-4 in February.
