Illini’s Struggle: A Defeat against Washington

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois lost to Washington, 84-75, at State Farm Center on Tuesday afternoon.

This defeat concluded the Fighting Illini’s 13-game home winning streak, marking the second-longest such run in the program’s history.

Genesis Bryant ended the game with a high of 32 points, matching her career-best scoring performance. Bryant successfully landed four 3-pointers and achieved a flawless 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. Scoring in double figures for the sixth consecutive game, she also pulled down six rebounds, provided four assists, and made one steal.

Adalia McKenzie recorded 13 points, five rebounds, and an assist, making two and-1 baskets during the third quarter.

Kendall Bostic marked double digits in scoring for the 12th consecutive game, tallying 17 points, six rebounds, and four assists.

Brynn Shoup-Hill registered five points, four rebounds, and achieved a career-high of four assists.

Illinois’ first matchup of the 2025 calendar year is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, when the Fighting Illini travel north to face Minnesota away from home. The Orange and Blue will confront the Golden Gophers in Minneapolis at 2 p.m. CT on B1G+.

HIGHLIGHTS

PRESS CONFERENCE

POSTGAME NOTES

Player Insights:

• Kendall Bostic achieved 17 points along with six rebounds and four assists.
  

  • Registered double figures for the 13th occasion this season and for the 62nd time in her career.
    

    • Has noted double-digit points in 12 successive games.
    • Reached this threshold with 8:54 remaining in the third quarter.

  • Now has recorded at least six rebounds in all 14 contests this season.

    • Continuously ascending the program’s all-time rebounding rankings:

      • 1. Jenna Smith (2006-10) – 1,217
      • 2. Kendall Bostic (2021-pres.) – 1,145

  • Her four assists represent a new peak for the season.

    • Has recorded multiple assists in six games this season.

• Jasmine Brown-Hagger registered six points and an assist.
• Genesis Bryant recorded a game-high 32 points along with six rebounds, four assists, and a steal.

  • Matched her career-best scoring performance with 32 points.

    • Achieved 30+ points for the first instance this season and for the third instance in her career.

  • Achieved the team-leading fourth occasion of scoring over 20 points this season.
    “““html
    role=”presentation”>Has concluded with 20+ points in consecutive games.

  • Recorded double digits for the sixth consecutive game, the ninth occurrence this season, and for the 59th instance in her career.

    • Achieved this milestone with 8:20 left in the second quarter.
    • Was the initial Illini to obtain double-digit points.
    • Had a team-leading 15 points in the first half.

  • Converted 4-of-10 from beyond the arc.

    • Moved into exclusive possession of fifth place on the program’s all-time 3-point field goals chart (163)
    • Nailed at least four 3-pointers for the third occasion this season.

• Adalia McKenzie amassed 13 points, five rebounds, and an assist.

  • Achieved double-digit points for the 11th time this season and for the 67th occasion in her career.

    • Reached that threshold with 6:57 remaining in the third quarter.
    • Has tallied double-digit points in five consecutive games.

  • Has gathered five rebounds in four of the last five games.

• Brynn Shoup-Hill totaled five points, four rebounds, and four assists. 

  • Her four assists marked a career-high performance.
  • Has recorded an assist in seven consecutive games.

    • Has provided multiple assists in three of the last five outings.

• Berry Wallace secured three offensive rebounds and made an assist.

  • Was the first substitute to enter the game for the Illini, coming in with 2:10 left in the first quarter.
  • Has recorded at least three offensive boards in three of the last four games.

Team Insights:

• The Huskies claimed the initial tip, and Washington notched the first points of the match with a layup on their first possession.
• The Illini featured three players with double-figure scoring (Bostic, Bryant, McKenzie).
• Illinois embarked on a 10-0 spurt in the opening five minutes of play to gain a 10-2 advantage with 5:58 still in the first quarter. 

  • The Illini made 4-of-5 attempts from the field during that four-minute span.

• The Illini utilized an 8-0 run in the fourth quarter to reduce the score from a 10-point deficit to just 2 with 5:38 left to play.
• The Illini have forced double-digit turnovers in each of the 14 games this season.

  • Converted 17 points from 14 turnovers.

• Illinois amassed 11 second-chance points via eight offensive rebounds.

  • Achieved double-digit second-chance points for the fifth consecutive game.
  • Surpassed 10 such points for the 10th occasion this season.

Miscellaneous Insights:

• Starting Players: Genesis Bryant, Jasmine Brown-Hagger, Adalia McKenzie, Brynn Shoup-Hill, Kendall Bostic
  

  • This combination is now 4-1 this season.

• Shauna Green stands at:

  • 52-28 with Illinois
  • 20-19 in Big Ten competition
  • 179-78 as a head coach in Division I
  • 208-103 overall

• Following the defeat, Illinois’ 13-game home winning streak concluded, which was the second-longest such streak in the program’s history.

  • 1. 18 games – 12/20/1997 to 1/5/1999
  • 2. 13 games – 2/19/2024 to 12/28/2024

• Illinois vs. Washington: 1-1 (second encounter)

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  • Shauna Green‘s coaching performance against Washington: 0-1
  • First encounter as conference rivals
  • Illinois is now 0-1 against Washington when playing on their home court in Champaign

• The Illini have restricted rivals to 15 points or fewer in 32 of 56 regulation periods.
• Illinois stands at 9-2 when donning white uniforms during this season.
• The Illini now have a record of 5-2 in matches that start before 5 p.m. CT this season.
• Illinois’ current record in games played on Tuesdays this season is 1-1.
• The Illini’s record for December is now 5-2.

Score at the end of the 1st Quarter: 21-21

Score at Halftime: 37-40 (16-19 Q2)

Score after the 3rd Quarter: 57-64 (20-24 Q3)

Score after the 4th Quarter: 75-84 (18-20 Q4)