The Road to Victory: Illinois Goes 1-0 Five Times En Route to WBIT Championship

Cut down nets.
Hoisted a trophy.
Accomplished a goal.
Made confetti angels.
Pumped water guns. 
Savored the moment.

The Illini rewrote history in Indianapolis on April 3, when Illinois women’s basketball secured its first-ever postseason championship after defeating Villanova, 71-57, to win the inaugural Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament.

From overcoming a double-digit deficit in their first-round matchup to leading by double digits for nearly the final three quarters in the semifinals, the Illini adapted to every challenge thrown their way en route to postseason glory.

One week ago, the Illini celebrated their championship win on the historic Hinkle Fieldhouse court. Now, let’s take a look back at the program’s path to becoming WBIT champs.

Illinois Earns No. 4 Seed in Inaugural WBIT
March 17 - Selection Sunday

Hearing their name called on Selection Sunday for the second straight season, the Illini secured postseason berths in consecutive campaigns for the first time since the 2006-07 and 2007-08 slates. Though they missed out on the NCAA Tournament, a competition they played in the year prior, the Orange and Blue knew they wanted to make the most of the opportunity.

“This is a team that wants to compete,” said head coach Shauna Green on March 19. “This is a team that is now going into this with the mindset of, ‘Let’s go and try to win this thing. If we’re going to be in it, let’s try to win it.’ I can’t wait, and our team is really excited.

“I think we’ve been playing really good basketball as of late, so these are more opportunities for us to continue to get better and build this program.”

Selected as a No. 4 seed in the 32-team tournament, Illinois was drawn against Missouri State, a team that had lost in its conference championship game on a buzzer-beater. As one of 16 seeded squads, the Illini boasted the right to host their first-round matchup at State Farm Center in Champaign.

By the time Thursday’s game rolled around, the Orange and Blue had gone two weeks since their most-recent contest. The Lady Bears, meanwhile, had last played four days prior. Expecting a slow start from her team as they got back up to speed, a prediction that proved to be true, Green knew the Illini’s first-round game would be anything but smooth sailing.

“Missouri State is going to be ready to go, so we have to play really good basketball,” Green said. “We haven’t played in two weeks, where they just played on Sunday. I expect a little bit of rust early on, but we’re just excited to compete again.”

First Round - Illinois defeats Missouri State, 74-69
March 21 - State Farm Center - Champaign, Ill.

As anticipated, it took some time for the Illini to settle in. Missouri State made four of its first five field-goal attempts to start the game, and the visitors took a four-point advantage within the opening three minutes of play. Though Illinois battled back to take a 13-10 lead, the Lady Bears used a 9-2 run to put the away side back in front by four. Through the first period of play, the Orange and Blue went into the second quarter with a 19-17 deficit.

Missouri State extended its edge to 11 points within the first three minutes of the second frame, the Illini’s largest deficit of their entire WBIT run. Illinois never led in the period, and the hosts went into the break trailing by five, 37-32.

The Lady Bears pushed their lead back up to double digits within the first 60 seconds of the second half, but an 8-0 Illini run over the next 3:11 cut the home team’s deficit down to two. Closing the frame on a 13-3 scoring stretch, Illinois went into the final period with a 55-51 edge.

The Orange and Blue led by as many as nine in the final quarter of play, though their advantage shrunk to two points with two minutes remaining. Holding the Lady Bears without a field goal the rest of the way, the Illini hung on for a 74-69 victory.

“I’m really proud of how we responded after a slow start to the first half,” Green said after the game. “We just executed at a very high level in the second half and made that really big run during the third quarter. I'm really proud of these guys.”

Makira Cook led all scorers with 27 points, 15 of which came in the first half. Adalia McKenzie recorded her third double-double of the season with 21 points and 11 rebounds, a scoring total that brought her above the 1,000-point mark in her career. Kendall Bostic corralled 17 rebounds, which took her past 1,000 career boards. Genesis Bryant added 14 points, and she accounted for three of the team’s six 3-pointers. The Illini connected on 75% of their shots from beyond the arc, a mark that tied the single-game program record.

“I just want to give all the glory to Jesus Christ because He helps me mentally and spiritually,” McKenzie said after the game. “I stayed focused. I'm surrounded by a great team of really good people. The fact that they don't lose confidence in me helps boost my confidence. I have a great coach and great teammates. I'm just really grateful that I was able to play for them."

The win secured a spot in the second round for the Illini, while it also meant Illinois would be able to play at State Farm Center one final time during the 2023-24 campaign. The Orange and Blue’s next opponent proved to be Stony Brook, a team that earned an automatic bid in the WBIT after winning the Colonial Athletic Association regular-season title.

“We're just grateful, first of all, to even have the opportunity to be able to play just because it's fun. It's what we do,” Cook said after the game. “We know that these games are still super hard games against a lot of good competition, so we know we need to bring our A game. Overall, we're just really happy to be playing still and be with each other."

Second Round - Illinois defeats Stony Brook, 79-62
March 24 - State Farm Center - Champaign, Ill.

The Seawolves entered the game with a 28-4 record, and they had lost only twice away from home during the season. Winners of seven straight road games, including an 81-70 victory at James Madison in the first round, Stony Brook arrived in Champaign with confidence and momentum.

Illinois never wavered. Starting the game on a 6-2 run, the Illini’s lead climbed as high as six points during the first five minutes of action. The Seawolves recorded four 3-pointers during the opening frame, which helped cut Illinois’ advantage down to one with three minutes left in the period. Closing the quarter on a 10-0 run, the hosts held a 27-16 edge through 10 minutes of play.

That lead grew to 16 early in the second frame, though a 4-1 run from the visitors cut that down to 13 with 3:31 to go before halftime. A 10-2 scoring stretch from the Illini over the next two-and-a-half minutes brought the home side’s advantage as high as 21 points through two periods of play, and Illinois went into the intermission with a 45-26 advantage.

A 7-0 run from the Seawolves early in the third quarter cut the Illini’s lead back down to 13, but the Illini responded with a big run of their own. A 14-2 Illinois scoring stretch over the next three minutes saw the hosts’ edge expand to 25 points, but another 7-0 Stony Brook run reduced the Illini’s edge to 64-46. A strong finish to the frame pushed the Illini’s advantage up to 22 points heading into the final 10 minutes.

A low-scoring fourth quarter ensued, though a 9-0 Stony Brook scoring streak cut into the visitors’ deficit and moved the Illini’s edge to 74-60 with 5:31 remaining. The Seawolves made only one field goal over the final six minutes, though, and the Illini secured a spot in the WBIT quarterfinals with the 17-point victory.

“We were getting out and playing at the tempo that we wanted to play, but that was a direct result of our defense and our rebounding,” Green said during the postgame press conference. “I'm just really, really proud of our overall team effort in order to get this win, and we continue to survive and then play another game.”

Adalia McKenzie totaled a career-best 28 points after starting 11-for-12 from the floor. Kendall Bostic tallied the seventh double-double in her last eight games with 19 points and 17 rebounds after shooting 9-for-11 overall and 5-for-5 in the first half. Makira Cook also recorded a double-double, amassing 14 points and 10 assists, with her double-digit helpers setting a new single-game postseason program record. 

The win marked the team’s final home game of the season, bringing the team’s record at State Farm Center up to 12-5 on the year. The victory also set up a meeting with No. 3-seeded Tulsa in the WBIT quarterfinals.

Bostic credited the team’s challenging conference schedule with preparing the Illini for the postseason. From facing a plethora of talent to playing in hostile road environments, Illinois’ Big Ten slate was a huge factor behind the Orange and Blue’s WBIT success.

“That prepares us really well since we have to handle some of the top guards in the country, some of the top bigs in the country, and playing them night in and night out and not having a night off,” Bostic said following the win over Stony Brook. “Any team can beat anybody in the Big Ten, so I think that really helped us with some of these teams. We might not know a whole lot about them, but we will come out and punch them like they are a Big Ten team.”

Quarterfinals - Illinois defeats Tulsa, 69-61
March 28 - Reynolds Center - Tulsa, Okla.

Securing double-digit wins over two power-conference opponents across the tournament's first two rounds, the Golden Hurricane entered the contest with an impressive résumé. Tulsa had fallen only once on its home court all season, a loss that came back in early January.

The Golden Hurricane had outscored its WBIT opponents in the first quarter, 49-27, so the Illini knew the importance of jumping out to a quick lead. Though that is easier said than done, that is exactly what Illinois did.

Tulsa scored the opening points of the night, but a 12-0 Illini run over the next six minutes put the visitors in front by double digits. The home side briefly brought their deficit back below 10 points, but a 6-3 run from the visitors ballooned their advantage up to 16-4 with two minutes remaining in the period. Holding the Golden Hurricane to nine first-quarter, the Orange and Blue held an 18-9 edge after one.

Illinois extended its lead to 13 less than one minute into the frame, but that one-sidedness did not last long. A back-and-forth period of play followed, which saw both teams go on 5-0 runs. Though the Illini led by 10+ points for the majority of the quarter, Tulsa reduced its deficit to seven with 1:36 to go before halftime. Closing the opening period on a 4-0 run, the Illini took a 35-24 advantage into the locker room.

A 6-2 run out of the break from the Golden Hurricane cut the hosts’ deficit back to single digits, and a 3-pointer from both sides maintained that seven-point Illini edge. Over the next two minutes, though, Illinois took over, going on an 8-0 run to take a 48-33 lead. That advantage reached as many as 16, though it moved to 54-41 heading into the final frame.

The Orange and Blue re-established a 16-point edge just over two minutes into the fourth quarter, but the Golden Hurricane continued to chip away. A 9-2 Tulsa run returned the home side’s deficit back to single digits, and a separate 6-2 scoring stretch brought the game to within six points with 1:34 left. Weathering the storm, the Illini got some big stops late to clinch a spot in the semifinals after handing Tulsa its second home loss of the season with a 69-61 road win.

“It’s really hard to win in March, and then you have to go on the road and play in a great environment. That’s where our conference and being on the road in the Big Ten has prepared us,” Green told reporters after the game. “That veteran leadership, there were times when they just made plays.”

Genesis Bryant finished with a team-most 19 points, including 12 points across the first two quarters. Makira Cook accounted for the team’s final 13 points while registering 17 overall, which saw her surpass 1,500 career points. Kendall Bostic once again reached the double-double threshold with 10 points and 16 boards, while Adalia McKenzie also scored in double figures with 10 points and two steals. Camille Hobby added eight points, six of which came in the first quarter, and eight rebounds.

The victory booked a spot for the Illini in Indianapolis as one of the final four teams in the competition. Advancing to the semifinals of a non-conference postseason tournament for the first time in program history, Illinois’ next contest would be its first-ever game played in April.

Semifinals - Illinois defeats Washington State, 81-58
April 1 - Hinkle Fieldhouse - Indianapolis, Ind.

Illinois made the quick trip east to Indianapolis for its semifinal game against Washington State, one of three No. 1 seeds among the last four teams remaining. As one of the First Four Out, the Cougars earned a top seed in the competition and played their first three games of the WBIT on their home floor.

Despite being the lowest-seeded team remaining, the Illini were not deterred.

“This opportunity means everything. Not every team is still playing. To have another opportunity to play the game that we love means a lot,” McKenzie said before the game. “We talk about making history. That's something we talk about, and we see it as an opportunity to do something new and play in the postseason.”

Illinois forced a turnover on Washington State’s opening possession and then scored on its first trip down the floor. The Cougars answered 23 seconds later to even the game at 2-2, but that would be the last time the contest would be tied. An 11-2 Illini run over the next four minutes put the Orange and Blue in front for good. Shooting 61.1% from the floor and leading by as many as 11 through the opening 10 minutes, Illinois held a 23-14 lead after the first quarter of action.

The Illini began the second frame with a 4-0 run, bringing their lead back into double digits; in fact, Illinois’ advantage never dropped below 10 the rest of the game. A 6-2 run from the Cougars cut into their deficit, but a 9-3 Illini stretch put the Orange and Blue ahead, 39-23, three minutes before halftime. That 16-point edge was the largest of the opening 20 minutes, and the Illini went into the break with a 42-28 lead.

Holding Washington State without a field goal for nearly six minutes to start the second half, Illinois took advantage by going on a 12-2 run, which brought the score to 54-30 in the Illini’s favor. A 13-4 Cougar run brought WSU within 15, though Illinois ended the quarter with a layup to give the Illini a 62-45 lead with one period remaining.

Putting an exclamation point on an already complete performance, the Illini began the fourth quarter on an 11-0 run, which extended their edge up to 28 with just under seven minutes to go. After the Cougars knocked down a 3-pointer, the Orange and Blue took a game-high 29-point lead via a 5-1 run over the next two minutes. Though Washington State ended the afternoon on a 6-0 run, Illinois secured the win in dominant fashion, 81-58.

“These past couple weeks with how they have taken on this tournament, our approach, our mindset, our togetherness, how connected we are, it's been really fun to watch as a coach,” Green said after the game. “It shows what you can do when you continue to believe, you continue to stay together as a team, and you continue to keep your head down and keep working.”

Makira Cook led the way with 20 points, including 16 points in the first half, while playing a team-most 33 minutes. Genesis Bryant made a team-high three 3-pointers and finished with 18 points, a total that brought her above the 1,000-point mark in her career. Adalia McKenzie totaled 14 points and three steals, while Camille Hobby collected 12 points and eight boards.

“It's not how you start but it's how you finish, and I feel like we have a great opportunity to finish well on Wednesday,” Bryant said after the game. “To know that we compete for a championship and cut down some nets, even after how we started, it's a blessing.”

Championship Game - Illinois defeats Villanova, 71-57
April 3 - Hinkle Fieldhouse - Indianapolis, Ind.

Earning a spot in the championship game, Illinois took on a Villanova program that featured one of the top five scorers in the country. The Wildcats had advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2022 and 2023, and they finished tied for third in the Big East. With Villanova coming off a 58-53 win over Penn State in the semifinals, Illinois knew the matchup with the Wildcats – the lone team standing between them and a championship – would not be easy.

Villanova opened the contest with an 8-4 run, but a 5-0 Illini scoring stretch gave the Orange and Blue their first lead of the night. The two sides traded baskets – and the lead – over the next two minutes, but another 5-0 Illinois run moved the Illini’s edge up to 16-12. The first quarter featured five lead changes, though the Orange and Blue took a 20-15 edge through the opening 10 minutes of action.

An Illinois 3-pointer early in the second quarter pushed the Illini’s advantage up to eight points, but a 6-3 Wildcat run over the next five minutes reduced the lead down to 26-21. Villanova then pulled in front via an 11-0 run, and the Illini went into the break with a 32-29 deficit.

After the Wildcats added onto their edge within the first 60 seconds of the second half via a second-chance bucket, the Orange and Blue took control. A 16-0 Illini run over the next five minutes turned a five-point deficit into an 11-point lead, an advantage Illinois never let slip. An 8-3 Wildcat run ended Villanova’s scoring drought, but the Illini went into the final quarter with a 50-44 edge.

Holding the Wildcats without a bucket for the first three-and-a-half minutes of the last period of play, the Orange and Blue began the frame with an 8-0 run to move their advantage up to 14 points. An 11-6 Villanova run cut its deficit to 65-55 with 2:37 remaining, but it was too little too late. A 6-0 Illinois scoring stretch brought the Illini’s edge up to a game-high 16 points, and the Illini clinched the championship with a 71-57 victory.

“It’s a huge night for us, and I could not be more proud of this entire team. It's been a season to remember. When you're going through adversity, it makes it so much more worth it when you get to what you want and you accomplish a goal,” Green said postgame. “The last few weeks throughout this WBIT, I’ve had the most fun coaching these guys. I could not be more proud of the overall effort tonight. It was a big step for our program as we continue to build what we want this program to be.

“Any time you can win and compete for a championship, it's special. It's bigger than basketball. It's about life. Life is not perfect. You're going to have a lot of adversity in your life, but how are they going to respond to it? How they have responded time and time again, how they have kept working, rolled up their sleeves, got to work, stayed together, and believed, it makes this really, really special.”

Makira Cook scored a game-high 27 points, 22 of which were scored in the second half. Kendall Bostic secured her third double-double of the WBIT with 15 points and 15 rebounds, and Genesis Bryant poured in 17 points. Bostic’s offensive output meant she passed 1,000 career points scored. Camille Hobby finished with eight points and 10 rebounds in the final game of her collegiate career.

Cook was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player for her performances in Indianapolis, while Bostic and Bryant joined Cook on the WBIT all-tournament team.

For Bostic, who has been involved in the highs and lows during her three years at Illinois, the win was even more special.

“From someone who has been here, we were really, really happy to see all the people hop on board with us: the band, Orange Krush, the cheerleaders, everyone showing support, all little kids,” Bostic said after the game. “It means a lot to see this program on the up and up. 

“We have not reached our full potential yet, but knowing that we just won a championship is really special.”

What it Means: Quotes