Skip To Main Content

University of Illinois Athletics

2019-20 Women's Basketball Roster

Mark Jones / Illinois Athletics
Craig Pessman / Illinois Athletics
Mark Jones / Illinois Athletics
Brad Leeb / Illinois Athletics
Mark Jones / Illinois Athletics
Craig Pessman / Illinois Athletics

5 Cierra Rice

  • Position Guard
  • Height 5-9
  • Class Redshirt Senior
  • Hometown Grosse Pointe, Michigan
  • High School Grosse Pointe South

Biography

Honors

  • Two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week (11/24, 12/7) 

R-Junior - 2018-19

  • Played in 30 games for Illinois, earning the start in 29 contests
  • Averaged 26.9 minutes per game
  • Netted a career-best five three-pointers (5-6) on her way to a career-high 23 points against Columbia
  • Was among team leaders for her 49 assists on the year, and dished a season-best four in four contests
  • Averaged 7.3 points and 3.0 rebounds per game on the year.  

R-Sophomore - 2017-18

  • Made 29 appearances in the Orange and Blue, starting in 16 games
  • Averaged 23.4 minutes on the court per contest
  • Recorded 5.8 points and 2.7 rebounds per game on the season, and averaged 7.0 points and 3.0 boards per game in league play
  • Matched her season-high with 13 points against Michigan State (Jan. 16) and Nebraska (Feb. 1)
  • Posted four double-figure scoring games 

Sophomore - 2016-17

  • Played and started in three games for the Illini before suffering a foot injury that sidelined her for the rest of the season

Freshman - 2015-16

  • Played and started in 10 games for Illinois before being sidelined by a knee injury for the remainder of the season
  • Was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week twice prior to her injury
  • Recorded her first 20-point game for the Illini against UT Martin (Nov. 21), and again put up more than 20 points against Miami (Dec. 2)
  • Is the third freshman in school history, since 1980, to record two 20+ point scoring games within the first five games of the season

High School

  • Four-star recruit is ranked the No. 66 overall player and the No. 21 guard in the Class of 2015 by ESPN Hoopgurlz
  • Ranked the No. 1 player in Michigan in the Class of 2015 by Midwest Girls Basketball Recruiting Report
  • Played for All Ohio Black AAU team, the same squad that former Illini All-American Karisma Penn played for
  • Averaged 18.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.5 assists per game in 2013-14
  • Has led Grosse Pointe South to a 68-7 record in the past three seasons, including consecutive Class A runner-up finishes in 2012 and 2013
  • Two-time MLive Detroit Dream Team selection
  • Two-time Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan All-State selection in 2013 and 2014
  • 2015 Parade All-America selection

Personal

  • Born July 22, 1997
  • Daughter of Marvin and Valeria Rice
  • Has three siblings, John, Aaron and Ashton
  • Is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes
  • Lists David Beckham as her favorite athlete
  • Was a four-year member of the National Honor Society
  • Enjoys dancing in her spare time

Statistics

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 5

    2015-16Freshman

    Guard
    5'9"
    5
  • 5

    2016-17Sophomore

    Guard
    5'9"
    5
  • 5

    2017-18Redshirt Sophomore

    Guard
    5'9"
    5
  • 5

    2018-19Redshirt Junior

    Guard
    5'9"
    5
  • 5

    2019-20Redshirt Senior

    Guard
    5'9"
    5