Monday’s dominant 74-38 win for Illinois (15-5, 5-4) pushes the team to a two-game win streak heading into back-to-back away games, which have given the team some trouble in the past. In front of over 4,000 people in Champaign, head coach Shauna Green finally put a Purdue (7-13, 0-9) win under her belt. The last time the Illini triumphed over the Boilermakers was in 2021.
On the other side, tonight’s result leaves Purdue in an eight-game skid without a win for over a month. Purdue has had struggles this season, particularly on the road, where it is now 1-5.
Starting the game hot
Coming into this match, the Illini knew they needed to start quickly and secure a comfortable lead. The Boilermakers are a tough, quick team, but the hosts rose to the occasion. The Illini attempted and converted multiple three-pointers in the opening minutes to establish a strong start.
While all of the Illinois roster put pressure on Purdue, fifth-year forward Kendall Bostic put up 14 points in the first quarter and grabbed five rebounds. It was just the kind of energy Illinois needed to bring from the start of every game.
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Purdue tried to fight back against Illinois’ intensity but had an inefficient first half. The Boilermakers only scored 19 points across the 20 minutes compared to their opponent’s 40. By the end of the game, the Boilermakers had converted fewer than 30% of their shots.
Freshman forward Kendall Puryear was given the tough challenge of figuring out how to score on Bostic. However, she stepped up and powered down the middle to the net for a few points in the first half to cut into Illinois’ lead. Puryear led her team with 10 points on the night despite not scoring in the second half.
Illinois wins 3-point battle
Both teams fought for those long-range points in this matchup. Purdue narrowly edged out Illinois in three-point attempts, but the hosts were significantly better at getting them to fall. The Illini shot 42% beyond the arc, one of their best nights for triples in this conference season.
Fifth-year guard Genesis Bryant was a perfect 3-3 from distance. She was also 5-6 from the floor, and an efficient Bryant is hard to defend. She’s quick, which helps her shake off defenders, and Bryant doesn’t shy away from a hand in her face. When she shot from afar, she took advantage and was on fire tonight.
For the Boilermakers, they were far better at taking three-pointers than actually making them. While some attempts fell short of the basket and led to more than one airball, three players took five or more threes. That includes the team’s most efficient long-range shooter, fifth-year guard Destini Lombard, with five attempts but only one conversion.
Freshman forward Berry Wallace also sank two three-pointers alongside her seven field goals. The freshman is the Illini’s most efficient three-point shooter, although with fewer minutes and attempts.
The experience she has gotten from playing at the Big Ten level has noticeably increased her confidence in this area since she returned from injury in December. At the end of the game, when the coaches pulled all of the starters, it was undoubtedly Wallace who led the bench players to defend the team’s lead.
Bostic makes program history
Not only did Bostic secure her 13th double-double this season, but she also beat Jenna Smith’s roughly 15-year standing record for all-time rebounds as an Illini with 1,218 boards. Bostic grabbed 11 rebounds tonight, pushing her past Smith’s impressive achievement by one.
“It’s really cool to get something that you’ve wanted for so long,” Bostic said. “I’m like, I want this, and I don’t think enough people appreciate rebounding. It’s something that I’ve really taken in my heart, and I love to do it, and it helps the team.”
Fans carried signs counting down this historic moment, and the crowd was electric as the forward ticked closer. Her teammates were ecstatic as well. They flew off the bench to celebrate the moment with Bostic during a Purdue timeout in the third quarter.
“I just kind of held it for a second to take it in,” Bostic said. “Running back down the court and realizing the whole arena is chanting your name. Everyone is supporting me. I won’t forget that.”
The forward is also chasing the program’s double-double record, which Smith currently holds with 53 career double-doubles. She ranks No. 1 in the conference for double-doubles and tied for No. 3 nationally.
4 Illini close the night with double-figures
In addition to Bostic’s 17, Wallace, sophomore guard Jasmine Brown-Hagger and Bryant all secured over 10 points.
With such a large lead, Green rested her starting players, a luxury she can rarely afford. For the final four minutes, there were no starting players on the court. This is where Wallace really got to shine and lead the team with her skill. Wallace got off to a slow start to her scoring but ended the night right behind Bostic with 16 points.
Despite still getting used to the aggressive pace and occasionally shying away from tougher defenders when driving toward the basket, the freshman has proven to be adaptable, never making the same mistake twice. When she stopped a run short on one possession, she would come back on the next with a more aggressive run or pull up for a jumper if she felt she couldn’t fight to the basket. This bench formation may give some insight into the future of Illinois women’s basketball.
