Fighting Illini Triumph on the Road: A Stunning Big Ten Victory Against Indiana

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Illinois maintained the lead for the last 38 minutes of the game, achieving a convincing 68-54 victory over Indiana at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Thursday evening.

The Fighting Illini surged ahead by as much as 15 points during the match, improving their record to 13-4 overall and 3-3 within conference competition with their inaugural Big Ten road triumph of the season.

The Orange and Blue witnessed four players finish with double digits, marking their largest away win against the Hoosiers since 1999.

Kendall Bostic returned to her home state in style, putting forth a commanding 21-point, eight-rebound effort. A force in the paint throughout the match, Bostic converted 9 of 19 field goals, provided three assists, and recorded one block while playing the entire 40 minutes.

With 11 points scored in the opening quarter, Adalia McKenzie went on to score 15 points, marking her eighth consecutive game in double figures. Of her five rebounds, three were on the offensive boards, and she provided four assists.

Berry Wallace scored in double figures for the second time in her career, achieving 13 points off the bench for the first time in Big Ten action. A pivotal five-point stretch in the fourth quarter shifted the tide back in the Illini’s favor, and the freshman also landed three 3-pointers, completing 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, alongside four rebounds and a steal.

Genesis Bryant concluded the game with 12 points, matching her seasonal-best with seven assists. She also secured three rebounds and forced a steal.

Jasmine Brown-Hagger contributed seven points, including five during the fourth quarter, alongside four assists, two rebounds, and a steal.

The Hoosiers scored on their opening possession, but the Illini quickly reclaimed control. A 19-2 surge over the next five-and-a-half minutes allowed the visitors to take a double-digit lead at 19-5. Bostic and McKenzie each amassed seven points during this stretch, as the Orange and Blue made eight out of their first 11 shots from the field.

With just over two minutes remaining in the first quarter, McKenzie became the first player to hit double digits. The Illini preserved their lead, entering the second quarter ahead 25-14.

After Illinois boosted its lead to 15 by scoring the initial four points of the second quarter, Bostic joined McKenzie in double figures with just over four minutes remaining in the frame. Bostic ultimately netted the Illini’s last four points of the first half, propelling the visitors to a 35-22 lead at halftime.

Bostic and McKenzie led their team offensively, together contributing 26 of the Illini’s 35 points during the first half. With assists on 11 of the 16 successful shots in the first 20 minutes, Illinois shot 60% from the three-point line before halftime.

Continuing from where she left off, Bostic scored six of the Illini’s first eight points of the second half, allowing the Orange and Blue to hold onto their double-digit advantage. However, a streak of seven consecutive baskets from the Hoosiers allowed them to close the gap to single digits at 45-37 for the first time in over 20 minutes.

After a timeout by the Illini, Wallace sank her second 3-pointer shortly after, pushing the visiting team’s lead back to 11 with just over two minutes to play in the third quarter. A late 4-1 Indiana run wrapped up the frame, sending the teams into the final quarter with Illinois holding a 49-41 lead.

The Hoosiers trimmed the lead to four early in the closing frame, but a quick five-point outburst from Wallace restored the Illini’s double-digit edge. Following a steal and a transition layup, Wallace extended her contributions by hitting a 3-pointer less than 20 seconds later.

That shift in momentum widened the Orange and Blue’s advantage to 55-45 with 6:08 remaining on the clock.

An Indiana 3-pointer at the buzzer narrowed the home team’s deficit to seven, but Brown-Hagger responded by scoring the next five points of the game, including a corner three, to reassert Illinois’ lead in double digits, 62-50, with three-and-a-half minutes left in the contest.

Back-to-back shots from Bryant and McKenzie pushed the Orange and Blue’s lead back to 12 with under a minute remaining, clinching the team’s first conference away victory of the season.

On Sunday, Illinois welcomes a ranked rival for the third occasion this term, as No. 22 Michigan State makes its way to Champaign. The matchup between the Fighting Illini and Spartans at State Farm Center is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT on B1G+, with tickets obtainable at the venue or via FightingIllini.com.

HIGHLIGHTS

POSTGAME RADIO INTERVIEW

Coming soon.

POSTGAME NOTES

Player Notes:

• Kendall Bostic tallied a game-best 21 points alongside eight rebounds, three assists, and a block.
  
  • Achieved her fourth 20-point game of this season and her eighth occurrence overall in her career.
    
    • Reached double digits for the 15th time this season and the 64th in her career.
      
      • Has surpassed the 10-point threshold in 14 of her last 15 contests.

  • Now boasts a minimum of six rebounds in all 17 games this season.
    • Progressing up the program’s all-time rebounding rankings:
      • 1. Jenna Smith (2006-10) – 1,217
      • 2. Kendall Bostic (2021-pres.) – 1,182

• Jasmine Brown-Hagger contributed seven points along with two rebounds and four assists.
  • Has recorded at least three assists in three consecutive games, marking a season-long run.

• Genesis Bryant achieved 12 points while providing seven assists.
  • Reached double figures for the 12th time this season and the 62nd of her career.
  • Her seven assists equal her season-high.

• Adalia McKenzie scored 15 points while achieving five rebounds and four assists.
  • Finished in double figures for the 14th time this season and the 70th time in her career.
    • Has scored 10 or more points in eight consecutive games.

  • Three rebounds came from offensive rebounds.
  • Fourth game this season with a minimum of four assists.
  • Has provided at least three assists in two consecutive games.

• Berry Wallace came off the bench to net 13 points and grab four rebounds.
  • First Illini off the bench, entering at 6:19 in the first quarter.
  • Scored in double figures for the second instance this season and for the first time in Big Ten action.
  • Matched her personal best with three three-pointers made.

Team Notes:

• The Hoosiers won the jump ball, and Indiana began the scoring with a 3-pointer on its initial possession.
• Illinois’ 14-point victory margin marks the largest against Indiana at Assembly Hall since a 14-point win on Feb. 11, 1996.
  • This marks only the fifth occasion in which the Illini have triumphed over the Hoosiers by double digits on the road.

• Illinois kept Indiana to 54 points, the Hoosiers’ fewest at Assembly Hall since they scored just 46 points against Michigan State on Dec. 28, 2017.
  • This is the fewest points permitted by the Illini in a game at Assembly Hall since they restricted the Hoosiers to 50 on Jan. 7, 2010.

• The Illini featured four players scoring in double figures (Bostic, Bryant, McKenzie, Wallace).
• Illinois executed an impressive 19-2 scoring run from 9:22 to 3:50 in the opening quarter to establish a 19-5 lead.
  • The Illini accomplished 8-of-11 from the field during this period while restricting Indiana to 1-of-9 from the floor and compelling them to make four turnovers.
  • Illinois additionally went on a 13-0 scoring spree during that time span over 3:15.
    • Converted 3-of-3 from long-range during that interval.

• The Orange and Blue’s 25 points in the opening quarter matched the highest point total achieved by the Illini at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, while the +11 lead in the initial frame is the greatest in any quarter by Illinois at this venue.
• Illinois finished the contest with a 6-0 run, preventing Indiana from scoring in the last 2:08 of the match.
  • Overall, the Illini successfully made their last seven attempts from the floor.

• The Illini out-muscled the Hoosiers on the boards 28-26, including a 5-3 lead in offensive rebounds.
  • The Illini converted those five offensive rebounds into four second-chance points.

• Illinois compelled Indiana into committing 14 turnovers throughout the evening.
  • The Illini have induced double-digit turnovers in every one of the 17 games this season.
  • Secured 14 points from those takeaways.
    • In comparison, Indiana only managed to score three points from six turnovers committed by Illinois.

• The Illini recorded 18 assists on their 27 field goals.

Miscellaneous Notes:

• Starting Players: Genesis Bryant, Jasmine Brown-Hagger, Adalia McKenzie, Brynn Shoup-Hill, Kendall Bostic
  
  • This lineup now holds a record of 6-2 this season.

• Shauna Green stands at:
  • 54-29 at Illinois
  • 22-20 in Big Ten contests
  • 181-79 as a Division I head coach
  • 210-104 overall
  • Illinois vs. Indiana: 32-49 (81st confrontation)
  • Shauna Green‘s coaching record against Indiana: 2-3
    • The Illini have triumphed in two consecutive matches against the Hoosiers for the first time since winning back-to-back games on Feb. 12, 2012, and Feb. 23, 2013.

  • Illinois now has a record of 11-28 when competing against Indiana on the road.
    • The Illini secured their first victory in Bloomington since Feb. 12, 2012.

• The Illini have restricted opponents to 15 points or fewer in 40 out of 68 regulation periods.
• Illinois presently holds a 3-2 record while donning blue uniforms this season.
• The Illini are now 8-1 in games that commence after 5 p.m. CT this season.
• Illinois remains undefeated at 5-0 in games played on Thursdays this season.
• The Illini have a record of 2-1 in the month of January.
• Illinois holds a record of 2-1 during the 2025 calendar year.

        Score after 1st Quarter: 25-14

        Score at Halftime: 35-22 (10-8 Q2)

        Score after 3rd Quarter: 49-41 (14-19 Q3)

        Score after 4th Quarter: 68-54 (19-13 Q4)