Illinois Soars as Stellar Defense Grounds Oregon in Thrilling B1G Home Debut

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois maintained its flawless record on its home floor this season with a 64-59 triumph over Oregon on Saturday afternoon in the Fighting Illini’s Big Ten home opener.

Four players scored in double digits as the Orange and Blue secured their 13th-consecutive victory at State Farm Center.

Achieving double figures for the fifth consecutive game, Bryant produced a game-high 23 points while converting 16-of-17 free-throw attempts. Matching the program’s single-game record for most successful free throws, Bryant additionally collected a season-best seven rebounds and contributed one assist.

Gretchen Dolan made her comeback after a five-game hiatus, scoring 13 points on a 5-for-9 shooting performance. Dolan, who recorded a team-high +13 while she was on the court, made three 3-pointers, secured five rebounds, and recorded a steal.

Kendall Bostic achieved her fifth consecutive double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, complementing her performance with a block and a steal.

Adalia McKenzie contributed 10 points by sinking eight free throws. She also gathered seven rebounds, an assist, a steal, and a block.

Bryant commenced the Illini’s scoring with the first eight points of the game, but the Ducks soon established a six-point lead within the initial three minutes. Stifling Oregon to only one successful field goal during the final five-and-a-half minutes of the first quarter, Illinois began to find its rhythm offensively. Five straight points from Dolan provided the home team its first lead of the match, and the Orange and Blue closed the quarter with the last eight points, taking a 21-11 lead after one period.

The Illini expanded their lead to 12 within the first 30 seconds of the second quarter, yet the visitors narrowed their gap to 23-22 following an 11-0 surge from the Ducks. Bryant’s 3-pointer halted that scoring run, pushing the hosts’ lead up to four, but a buzzer-beating trey from Oregon sent the teams into halftime with the Illini clinging to a narrow lead of 28-27.

Bryant, being the only player to achieve double figures in the first half, posted a game-leading 13 points during the initial 20 minutes.

With Illinois clinging to just a one-point advantage midway through the third quarter, a 7-2 Illini run elevated the home team’s edge to 40-34 with 2:19 remaining in the frame. Brown-Hagger can bring the initial four points and executed an and-1 layup during that span before McKenzie secured the last three points to extend Illinois’ lead to six.

An 8-0 Oregon streak between the third and fourth quarters allowed the Ducks to attain a 42-40 lead, marking the visitors’ first advantage since the opening quarter. Following Dolan’s 3-pointer that regained the lead for Illinois, Oregon answered with a triple of their own on the subsequent possession to reclaim the advantage.

The visiting team increased their lead to four points, but a 7-0 Illini run saw the Orange and Blue surge ahead once more. Dolan was instrumental, scoring five points during that 90-second span, including a corner three that extended Illinois’ lead to 50-47 with 6:46 left in the contest.

An early 4-0 response from Oregon briefly put the visitors in front before Illinois struck back with a 4-0 run of their own to gain a 54-51 lead. With the Illini’s advantage reduced to two points and under a minute left, Bostic grabbed an offensive rebound before drawing a foul. Converting both free throws, Bostic achieved her double-double and raised Illinois’ lead to 59-55 with 47.9 seconds to play.

The Ducks halved their deficit, but McKenzie’s pair of free throws reinstated the Illini’s four-point lead at 61-57 with 33 seconds remaining. Oregon once more responded to decrease Illinois’ advantage, yet the Illini secured the victory with three successful free throws coupled with defensive stops at the other end, solidifying a five-point triumph.

Illinois wraps up its five-game home stretch on Tuesday when Washington visits. The New Year’s Eve conference showdown is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on Big Ten Network, whiletickets can be found at FightingIllini.com.

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POSTGAME INSIGHTS

Player Insights:

• Kendall Bostic tallied 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
  • Achieved her ninth double-double of the season and the 43rd of her career.
    • Currently stands alone in second place on the program’s career double-double ranking.
    • Has amassed double-doubles in five consecutive games.
  • Logged double-digit rebounds for the fifth straight game, marking the 10th occurrence this season and 64th in her career.
    • Continues to ascend the program’s all-time rebounding leaderboard:
      • 1. Jenna Smith (2006-10) – 1,217
      • 2. Kendall Bostic (2021-pres.) – 1,139
  • Reached double digits in scoring for the 12th time this season and the 61st in her career.
• Jasmine Brown-Hagger contributed six points, three rebounds, and three assists.
• Genesis Bryant finished with a game-high 23 points and secured seven rebounds.
  • Surpassed 20 points for the third time this season and the 14th in her career.
  • Scored in double digits for the fifth consecutive game and the eighth time overall this season.
    • Became the initial player on either side to hit double figures, achieving this with 9:37 left in the second quarter following two successful free throws.
    • Achieved a game-high of 13 points in the first half.
    • Scored the first eight points for the Illini during the game.
  • Converted 16 of 17 free throw attempts.
    • Set new career-highs for free throws made and attempted.
    • Equaled Karisma Penn’s single-game record for the program with 16 free throws made (Penn achieved this on Jan. 6, 2013, against Ohio State).
    • Ranked fourth-most in a single game in NCAA this season.
    • Her 94.1% free-throw accuracy presents a new team-best this season, outperforming other Power 4 teams.
  • Recorded a season-high of seven rebounds.
    • Achieved six rebounds during the 7:43 mark in the second quarter.
• Gretchen Dolan scored 13 points and pulled down five rebounds.
  • Achieved double-digit scoring for the fourth time this season.
  • Matched her career-high with three made 3-pointers.
    • Has successfully executed multiple 3-pointers in three games this season.
  • Came off the bench as the first Illini, making her return with 6:24 left in the first quarter.
    • Was sidelined for the previous five games due to injury.
• Adalia McKenzie ended with 10 points, seven rebounds, one assist, one block, and one steal.
  • Secured at least seven boards in three games this season.
    • Gained three rebounds from offensive opportunities.
• Brynn Shoup-Hill contributed two points along with five rebounds.

Team Insights:

• The Ducks claimed the opening tip, with Oregon securing the first points of the game via a layup on their initial possession.
• The Illini had four players scoring in double digits (Bryant, Bostic, Dolan, McKenzie).
• The Illini executed a remarkable 17-2 run over the last 5:06 of the first quarter, establishing a 21-11 lead heading into the second quarter.
• Illinois executed runs of 9-0 and 8-0 throughout this period, limiting Oregon to barren intervals of 2:41 and 2:54.
• The Illini defense restricted the Ducks to merely 1-for-9 shooting during the last 5:06 of the quarter, causing two turnovers.

• The Illini have compelled double-digit turnovers in all 13 contests this season.
  • Produced 14 points from 13 takeaways.

• Illinois outperformed Oregon in rebounds, 45-32, making it the 12th occasion this season that the Illini have triumphed in the rebounding contest.
  • Illinois has maintained a +10 rebounding advantage or higher for six consecutive games.

• Illinois currently stands at 1-0 this season in matches determined by five points or fewer.
  • The Illini hold a 7-6 record in games decided by that margin under Shauna Green.

Misc. Notes:

• Starters: Genesis Bryant, Jasmine Brown-Hagger, Adalia McKenzie, Brynn Shoup-Hill, Kendall Bostic
  
  • This combination is currently 4-0 this season.

• Shauna Green has a record of:
  • 52-27 at Illinois
  • 20-18 in Big Ten competition
  • 179-77 as a Division I head coach
  • 208-102 Overall

• Shauna Green continues to ascend the program’s all-time victory list. Following the Fighting Illini’s win against Oregon, Green achieved her 52nd success at Illinois, placing her sixth in program history.
  • 1. 210 Theresa Grentz (12 seasons)
  • 2. 83 Laura Golden (6 seasons)
  • 3. 73 Jane Schroeder (5 seasons)
  • 4. 69 Jolette Law (5 seasons)
  • 5. 61 Matt Bollant (5 seasons)
  • 6. 52 Shauna Green (3 seasons)
  • 7. 50 Kathy Lindsey (5 seasons)
  • 8. 42 Nancy Fahey (5 seasons)
  • 9. 33 Carla Thompson (3 seasons)
  • 10. 12 Steven Douglas (3 seasons)

• Illinois has secured 13 consecutive victories at State Farm Center, marking the second-longest such run in program history.
  • 1. 18 games – 12/20/1997 to 1/5/1999
  • 2. 13 games (Active) – 2/19/2024 to Current

• Illinois vs. Oregon: 2-2 (fourth encounter)
  • Shauna Green‘s coaching record against Oregon: 1-0
  • First clash as conference rivals
  • Illinois is currently 2-0 vs. Oregon when playing in Champaign

• The Illini have maintained opponents at or below 15 points in 32 out of 52 regulation periods.
• Illinois stands at 9-1 when donning white uniforms this season.
• The Illini are currently 5-1 in games commencing before 5 p.m. CT this season.
• Illinois is now 1-0 in Saturday contests this season.
• The Illini now hold a 5-1 record in December.

Score after 1st Quarter: 21-11

Score at Halftime: 28-27 (7-16 Q2)

Score after 3rd Quarter: 40-37 (12-10 Q3)

Score after 4th Quarter: 64-59 (24-22 Q4)