This game can only be described as all Illini (19-5, 9-4), all the time. The visitors did not trail, and the Illini played their best basketball from the jump.
Senior guard Adalia McKenzie played a standout game against the Badgers (11-13, 2-11). It was her highest-scoring game since conference play began. The veteran scored 18 points and was one of the most dominant rebounders on the floor that night.
Wisconsin tried to fight back throughout the game. Junior forward Serah Williams converted 14 points, and graduate student guard Natalie Leuzinger attempted to score from the arc.
But Illinois was too much to handle. Even following an injury to fifth-year guard Genesis Bryant at the end of the third quarter, the visitors hung on to the lead.
Illini off to the races
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Coming into this match, Illinois knew it needed to work quickly to score. The Wisconsin defense is tough to crack when set, so getting ahead was key.
The Illini took advantage of fast breaks early. Sophomore guard Jasmine Brown-Hagger opened scoring with back-to-back fast break layups. Consecutive triples from McKenzie and Bryant followed behind.
Illinois padded the scoreboard in the first quarter, putting a double-digit distance between it and Wisconsin. The Badgers fought back, but the hosts failed to overcome the lead that the Illini had established.
Both teams got a bit sloppy in the third, throwing away possessions and bouncing shots off the iron. Once the game began to settle, the Illini once again took control. The Badgers struggled to sink their claws into the game, bouncing between trying to score in transition and slowing down to establish possessions.
Ultimately, neither strategy could help them stop the bleeding, and the Illini stayed at least 10 points ahead of their opponents after the opener.
Illinois prevails in 3-point fight
The Illini used this game as a practice for their three-point shooting. Six Illini converted a triple, with senior forward Brynn Shoup-Hill sinking three of her five chances.
Two other Illini made more than one three-pointer. McKenzie had two, and freshman forward Berry Wallace made three. Altogether, it was Illinois’ season best for three-pointers made and attempted, making 11 of their 21 attempts.
While Wallace is a known long-range shooter, the other two rarely hit their stride from out there. Those points were crucial in keeping the Illini’s energy up throughout the game. When there were scoring ruts, they relied on those shooters who just needed more chances to start hitting with some efficiency again.
Wisconsin’s two graduate student guards, Leuzinger and Tess Myers, were supposed to help answer the unexpectedly efficient Illinois shooters. However, Myers shot her fewest attempts since starting Big Ten play. It resulted in her making her fewest number of triples since playing Nebraska when she also only made one.
Rebound battle
The No. 1 and No. 2 Big Ten rebounders, fifth-year forward Kendall Bostic and Williams, faced each other in the post this game. Both forwards had their work cut out for them. Bostic averages 16 points and a conference-leading 11.2 boards, while Williams puts up 19.1 points and 10.6 rebounds.
Bostic outdid Williams at the boards, securing 11 herself and holding the Badger to five. In the first quarter alone, Bostic had forced three Williams turnovers. Sunday marked her 15th double-double of the season.
Wisconsin wanted to establish itself early on, but the Illinois defense put a definitive stop to that. Bostic, Shoup-Hill and Wallace prevented the Badgers from setting up downhill almost entirely. Instead, the Madison hosts had to hold the ball higher and longer, forcing runs instead of finding Williams down low.
McKenzie was particularly aggressive on the boards. She grabbed eight rebounds, three of which were offensive. She battled against much taller opponents and used her hops to get up and knock the ball free. This pushed the ball into the air, which her teammates, more often than not, grabbed.
However, only seven of the Illini’s points came from second chances despite getting 11 offensive rebounds. Their consistency could use some improvement, but getting the ball back into their hands in these situations will always be important.
Drawing offensive fouls
The last key area that worked in the Illini’s favor was their ability to work the foul game. They rank No. 4 nationally in free throw conversion, got to the line 12 times and shot 91.7%. Wallace missed the only Illinois free throw of the game.
This strategy gained them points but forced Wisconsin to change its play style. Williams was sent to the bench twice due to foul trouble, notably in the fourth quarter when her team was racking up points.
She only scored 14 points, and while this led her team, it was her lowest score in the past 10 games. Bostic played a significant role in holding Williams to so few points. She constantly got a hand in her face and forced her to take jumpers while the junior preferred layups in the paint.
Up next
Illinois returns home to face Penn State (10-14, 1-12), which holds a record similar to Wisconsin. After facing the Badgers, the Illini must carry their comfort beyond the arc into this matchup to push ahead early. The strong rebounding from Bostic and the guards will be another key factor in closing the season.
