The Wildcats (7-14, 0-10) came back with a vengeance after a 25-point loss to the Illini (18-5, 8-4) at the end of January. However, Illinois prevailed and held Northwestern to 60 points again.
Illinois has been on a roll since its last game against Northwestern. Now on their fifth consecutive win, the Illini are inching ever closer to a spot on the rankings.
This game seemed to be Illinois’ from the beginning. Both teams came out strong, and that intensity led to both teams trading bricks for nearly two minutes. A jumper from senior guard Adalia McKenzie got things going, and the Illinois hosts had a solid handle on the game in the first half. While Northwestern fought back and capitalized on late-game mistakes, Illinois showed resilience and maintained the lead.
Factor 1: Bryant, Wallace solid beyond the arc
Northwestern shoots 29.7% from beyond the arc and allows opponents to shoot 34.7%. Illinois has spent the season shooting 32.6% but saved a 46.2% performance for Northwestern. This follows a game with a 47.6% clip against Maryland. The team is landing shots more consistently and with increased confidence in the long-range.
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Junior guard Caroline Lau, the Wildcats’ dominant long-range shooter, couldn’t convert any Thursday. Her first attempt was a half-court buzzer beater before the second half that fell short. Freshman forward Berry Wallace attempted a buzzer-beater of her own to send the game into halftime, which she converted for Illinois’ 45th point of the game.
The top Illini three-point shooters showed out early. By halftime, fifth-year guard Genesis Bryant and Wallace had eight attempted three-pointers between them, converting four. By the end of the game, Bryant’s three converted triples covered almost half of her team-leading 20 points.
Factor 2: Controlling pace of play
The Illini pulled away from the Wildcats early, putting a 12-point cushion between them by the end of the first period. This buffer allowed the hosts to play with extra precision, ensuring their shots were lined up and had clear lanes to push to the net. They played with a steadier air than they usually demonstrate early on.
Bryant was one basket away from hitting double digits within the first 10. She knocked down two triples and went into halftime with 10 points.
The Illini offense moved the ball much quicker than the Wildcats. Their cross-court passes scrambled the Wildcats’ defense and allowed for great scoring opportunities for the Illini.
Factor 3: Confidence off the bench
In the second quarter, sophomore guard Cori Allen saved her team from an over and back, dishing the ball to Wallace. Fifth-year forward Kendall Bostic ended up with the ball, pushing the team to over 40 points.
Wallace got some early minutes, subbing in for sophomore guard Jasmine Brown-Hagger in the first quarter. She came in hot and swished an early three. She was aggressive on both ends, scoring 14 points and securing three boards.
In the second half, Wallace had to fill in for Bostic, who had racked up three consecutive personal fouls in the first minute and a half. Freshman center Hayven Smith helped fill that gap later on.
Wallace’s role was to cover and contain junior forward Grace Sullivan and graduate student forward Taylor Williams. Sullivan is typically an effective scorer but was shut out by the Illinois defense to four points on three attempts.
In her two minutes, Smith used her size to box out around the hoop, got to the line and attempted a layup off a haphazard rebound. She shot 2-2, helping her team regain the momentum they had lost when Bostic went to the bench.
Areas to work on
While Bostic’s foul trouble could be chalked up to the forward having an off night, she is a vital part of Illinois’ starting rotation. Head coach Shauna Green benched her to keep her out of more trouble. It killed some of the Illini’s momentum and efforts around the boards.
Coming back on, Bostic played it a little safer, allowing the Wildcats to regain possessions they had to fight for earlier. By the end of the game, the visitors were within 10 points with a minute left. Northwestern’s leading scorer, senior forward Caileigh Walsh, capitalized on many mistakes by Illinois. She could sit low and get quick shots off, cutting into the Illini’s lead.
“There was never really a good rhythm to this game,” Green said. “We just have to be more consistent in the second half.”
The Illini’s ball-handling skills noticeably declined as the game continued. All of the team’s guards struggled as the game ticked on, and Northwestern switched defensive play styles. They went between man-to-man and blitz styles, which added difficulty on the offensive end that had to adjust their plays in response.
“We haven’t played a team that switches up their defense like that,” Bostic said. “We were kind of slow when we were trying to see what they’re in.”
Every Illini guard struggled with ball handling against this defense, which had been a non-issue in the first half. It allowed players like Walsh to close out a player, win the ball and put up some points.
