LOS ANGELES – No. 25 Illinois fought from start to finish but fell on the road to No. 3 UCLA, 70-55, on Thursday night at Pauley Pavilion.
The Fighting Illini outscored the Bruins, 21-11, in the third quarter to reduce their deficit to four, but it was not enough to take down UCLA on its home court as the Orange and Blue's program-record eight-game Big Ten winning streak came to a close.
Adalia McKenzie led the Illini scoring attack with 18 points, 12 of which came on 3-for-6 shooting in the second half. McKenzie grabbed three of her four rebounds on the offensive glass and posted two steals, while she played all 40 minutes for the third-consecutive game.
In her first-career start, Berry Wallace finished with 13 points while going 2-for-4 from behind the arc. The true freshman also recorded six rebounds and tied her career-high with two steals.
Scoring in double figures for the ninth game in a row, Genesis Bryant logged all 10 of her points in the second half. She also collected eight assists and secured a rebound.
Kendall Bostic registered eight points, 11 rebounds, two blocks, two steals, and an assist.
No. 25 Illinois finishes its Los Angeles road trip with another ranked matchup on Sunday at 3 p.m. CT, when the Fighting Illini take on No. 4 USC on FS1.
HIGHLIGHTS
PRESS CONFERENCE
POSTGAME NOTES
Player Notes:
- Kendall Bostic secured 11 rebounds to go along with eight points, two blocks, two steals, and an assist.Â
- Added to her lead atop the program's career rebounding list:
- 1. Kendall Bostic (2021-pres.) - 1,293
- 2. Jenna Smith (2006-10) - 1,217
- Remained in third place on the Big Ten all-time career rebounding list (of players who played in the league) and moved closer to the two players above her:
- 1. Megan Gustafson (Iowa, 2016-19) - 1,460
- 2. Jantel Lavender (Ohio State, 2008-11) - 1,422
- 3. Kendall Bostic (Illinois, 2020-Present) - 1,357
- 4. Denise Jackson (Indiana, 1981-84) - 1,273
- Stayed in ninth place on the program's single-season rebounding list.
- Remained in eighth on the Illinois all-time career blocks list:
- 1. Alex Wittinger (2016-19) - 274
- 7. Chatrice White (2014-16 - 123
- 8. Kendall Bostic (2021-Pres.) - 118
- Posted 10+ rebounds for the 20th time this season.
- Now has at least six rebounds in all 27 games this season.
- Knocked down multiple 3-pointers for the second time this season.
- Tied her career-high with two 3-pointers.
- Made multiple blocks for the eighth time this season.
- Has done so in four of the last five games.
- Grabbed multiple steals for the fifth time this season.
- Genesis Bryant poured in 10 points and dished out eight assists.
- Scored in double figures for the 21st time this season and for the 71st time in her career.
- Has also done so in nine-straight games.
- Connected on two 3-pointers to continue to climb the Illinois career makes list:
- 1. Amber Moore (2009-14) - 295
- 2. Lori Bjork (2005-08) - 214
- 3. Krista Reinking (1994-98) - 194
- 4. Genesis Bryant (2022-Present) - 191
- Her eight assists marked her second-best output in a game this season.
- Has 4+ assists in five-straight games and 6+ assists in three of her last four appearances.
- Adalia McKenzie paced the Illini in scoring with 18 points while also tallying four rebounds and two steals.
- Scored in double figures for the 21st time this season and the 77th time in her career.
- Has 10+ points in four-straight games.
- Scored 10 points in the third quarter behind 2-for-3 shooting from the field and 6-for-8 from the free throw line.
- Posted multiple steals for the sixth time this season.
- Has multiple steals in back-to-back games for the first time this season.
- Has played all 40 minutes in each of the last three games.
- Berry Wallace finished with 13 points, six rebounds, and two assists.
- Made the first start of her collegiate career.
- Was the first Illini freshman to enter the starting lineup since Adalia McKenzie did so on March 3, 2022, against Nebraska in the Big Ten Tournament.
- Was the first Illinois freshman to start a regular season game since Adalia McKenzie on Feb. 27, 2022, at Rutgers.
- Scored in double figures for the ninth time this season.
- Has 10+ points in five of the last six games and in seven of the last nine.
- Registered a team-high 10 points in the first half.
- Made multiple 3-pointers for the 10th time this season.
- Went 2-for-4 from beyond the arc.
- Has multiple treys in five of the last six games.
- Grabbed two steals.
- Equaled her career-best tally and marked her most in a Big Ten game.
- Recorded multiple steals for the second time in her career.
Team Notes:
- UCLA won the opening tip, and the Bruins opened the scoring on their opening possession.
- The Illini had three double-figure scorers (McKenzie [18], Wallace [13], Bryant [10]).
- Illinois closed the third quarter on an 11-3 run across the final 3:33 of the frame.
- Outscored the Bruins in the third quarter, 21-11.
- Illinois forced UCLA into 11 turnovers and scored eight points off of them.
- The Illini have forced double-digit turnovers in 26 of their 27 games this season.
- The Illini held the Bruins to 32 points in the first half, tied for their third-fewest first-half points this season.
- Their 32 first-half points were their second-fewest in a home game this season.
- Illinois scored 15 second-chance points on 16 offensive rebounds.
Misc. Notes:
- Starters: Genesis Bryant, Adalia McKenzie, Berry Wallace, Brynn Shoup-Hill, Kendall Bostic
- This lineup is now 0-1 on the season.
- The loss snapped the Illini's eight-game winning streak, their longest such streak in Big Ten play in program history.
- Shauna Green is now:
- 62-31 at Illinois
- 30-22 in Big Ten play
- 189-81 as a Division I head coach
- 218-106 overall
- Illinois vs. UCLA: 3-2 (fifth meeting)
- Shauna Green's coaching record vs. UCLA: 0-1
- Illinois is now 1-2 against UCLA when playing in Los Angeles.
- Illinois moved to 6-3 away from home this season.
- The Illini have held opponents at/below 15 points in 63 of 108 regulation periods.
- Illinois is now 7-3 when wearing blue uniforms this season and 17-11 when doing so under Green.
- The Illini are now 13-2 in games starting after 5 p.m. CT this season.
- Illinois is now 9-1 in games played on Thursdays this season.
- The Illini are now 5-1 in February.
- Illinois is now 10-3 during the 2025 calendar year.
Score after 1st Quarter: 8-14
Score at Halftime: 18-32 (10-18 Q2)
Score after 3rd Quarter: 39-43 (21-11 Q3)
Score after 4th Quarter: 55-70 (16-27 Q4)
