The Illini took to the floor of the State Farm Center for their last game of the season, and it certainly was a thrilling one. After playing not-so-well against Michigan State, Illinois took it upon itself to learn from that loss and convert it to a win for the team’s Senior Day matchup, only winning by one point. This intense win brought the team to 0.500 on the season, and they look ahead to this weekend for more action in the Big Ten tournament.
Starting and finishing strong
Illinois out-hustled Nebraska in the first round and final rounds of the game. The team finished with a seven-point lead after the first quarter. Even though Nebraska scored more in the fourth quarter, Illinois focused on defense to make huge stops which ultimately impacted the outcome of the game.
Illinois’ starting five players are indicated with *.
*Genesis Bryant (B)
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The senior guard closed her regular season with a 17-point performance on 6-14 shooting with four rebounds and assists. Bryant also recorded a steal in her 40 minutes on the court. Bryant provided a solid scoring option as she had done all season. She also shot perfectly from the charity stripe.
*Makira Cook (A)
Simply put, senior guard Makira Cook(ed) on offense. In 38 minutes on the court, the guard went for 20 points, six rebounds and five assists. In potentially her final game at the State Farm Center, Cook led the team in scoring and helped the Illini to a big win. Cook also registered the go-ahead point with a free throw with 34 seconds left in the game.
*Adalia McKenzie (F)
McKenzie did not play the way she normally plays against Nebraska. She failed to score any points, but put up four assists and four rebounds. She only played about 23 minutes, but if she were to put up some points, it probably would have helped the team win a little more comfortably this time around.
*Camille Hobby (B)
In a 22-minute night for the fifth-year center in her final regular season game, Hobby recorded nine points and 10 rebounds for the Illini. Hobby also picked up a quartet of assists, helping the Illini to the big win on Senior Day. She added an assist to go with the well-rounded stats. The veteran center was a key part of the defensive prowess that shut the Cornhuskers down in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
*Kendall Bostic (A)
Bostic played all 40 minutes on Sunday afternoon, putting up another double-double. She ended with 12 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and a steal. Each time she was in the paint, she was ready for whatever came her way. She even defended so well that Nebraska was unable to score a field goal in the last five minutes of the game. While it’s not confirmed whether or not Bostic is coming back to play for one more season, it’s clear that if she does, she’ll continue to be a trailblazer for the Illini.
Gretchen Dolan (B)
Dolan had a decent game against Nebraska, putting up seven points, four rebounds and a steal. Dolan continues to see the floor earlier and earlier for the Illini, providing essential offense off of the bench on occasions such as Sunday when starters come up empty. Overall, she has grown tremendously with her confidence on the court, and she’ll likely be seeing even more minutes next season.
Shay Bollin (A)
Bollin had a strong game on Sunday as she put up nine points and two rebounds. While it may not seem like much, she put up points when the team needed them the most. She looked confident in her abilities against Nebraska and put her heart on the court for all 15 minutes she played. Green emphasized her positive attitude and hard efforts in practice, and seeing her work displayed during a game demonstrates how she’s learning more and more every day.
