The Illini (14-14, 8-10) returned to the State Farm Center for their final game of the regular season to face off against the Nebraska Cornhuskers (19-10, 11-7).
For one last time on their home court, head coach Shauna Green kept the same players in the starting lineup. Senior guard Genesis Bryant, senior guard Makira Cook, junior guard Adalia McKenzie, fifth-year center Camille Hobby and senior forward Kendall Bostic all took to the center of the court for tipoff.
Nebraska started with the ball but was unable to profit off this possession. Nebraska scored the first points of the game about three minutes in, but Illinois got on the board soon after with a Hobby three-pointer.
The Illini scored on their next four possessions, taking a 12-6 lead to begin the matchup. The seniors started strong, with Bryant, Cook, Hobby and Bostic all recording points across the board. Nebraska effectively got the ball in the paint for easy points, but Illinois did the same, making solid passes to Bostic for smooth layups. After the first quarter, Illinois led 23-16 as Bostic and Cook both had eight points.
The Cornhuskers came out hot in the second quarter, going on a 10-0 run to take the lead. Their lead did not last long, as Bryant and sophomore forward Shay Bollin got to the hoop and converted on contested shots. A three-pointer from Bollin brought the Illini’s lead to seven once more.
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Nebraska thrived on the offensive boards, but Illinois made elite passes to Bostic in the paint to maintain the lead. At the half, Illinois led 42-35, shooting 53% from the field.
Coming out of halftime, Nebraska kicked things off with a three-pointer to cut the lead to four. After the Cornhuskers picked up their eighth three-pointer to tie the game at 49, Green called a timeout with 4:36 to go in the third quarter.
Nebraska continued to inch forward even after the break and had a 55-53 lead two minutes later. However, Illinois bounced back to take the lead entering the final quarter, 59-57.
The Cornhuskers tied it back up at 59 to start the fourth quarter, then soon retook the lead with an 8-0 run. With five minutes left of the game, Nebraska had its largest lead at seven and led 71-64.
Freshman guard Gretchen Dolan answered the bell with two minutes remaining and made good on a three-point play that moved the Illini within two points. The energy only continued to rise and the crowd got on their feet with excitement as Bryant tied the game at 73 with two free throws.
The Illini took a one-point lead with a free throw from Cook, which moved the score was 74-73 with 35 seconds remaining. The Cornhuskers went to their free-throw line after a foul by Bostic but missed both shots. Immediately after, the officials took some time to review an out-of-bounds call, and the ball stuck with Nebraska.
In the last 24 seconds of the game, the Illini locked down on defense to secure a pair of stops as the buzzer ran out. Illinois left the State Farm Center with a 74-73 win.
@tess_eken
