Illini of the season: Bright spots from a tough year
By Nithin Reddy, Staff Writer
April 2, 2020
The Illinois women’s basketball team once again struggled. For the seventh straight year, the Illini failed to reach .500 on the season, and Illinois won just two games in conference play. With that said, the Illini had some great individual performances this season. MVP: Petra Holešínská With Pe...
Illini women’s basketball hires new assistant coach
By Claire O'Brien, Staff Writer
March 31, 2020
Illinois women’s basketball head coach Nancy Fahey hired a new assistant coach, Scott Merritt, last week. Merritt replaced LaKale Malone, who’d been coaching at Illinois since 2012. Malone has not been introduced as a coach at another school yet. Merritt was a starter at Marquette in 2003, per Illino...
Holešínská announces transfer from Illinois
By Nithin Reddy, Staff Writer
March 15, 2020
Petra Holešínská has announced she is transferring from the Illinois women's basketball program. The redshirt junior guard announced her decision on Wednesday via her personal Instagram and Twitter account. In her tweet, Holešínská thanked the University for her four years. “(The University) tur...
Illini start strong, wither in Big Ten play
By Claire O'Brien, Staff Writer
March 14, 2020
The women’s basketball team’s season came to a close March 4 at the Big Ten tournament. The Illini bounced out of the tournament with a 71-55 loss to the Wisconsin Badgers. In a season riddled with Big Ten struggles and team injuries, there were some high points. Illinois began the season on a positiv...
NCAA announces March Madness basketball tournament cancellation
By Gabby Hajduk, Staff Writer
March 12, 2020
The NCAA officially canceled both Division I men’s and women’s 2020 basketball tournaments. NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors announced the cancellation in a statement on Thursday afternoon. The NCAA sites the ongoing COVID-19 public health threat as its cause for the cancell...
National basketball tournaments to be played without fans NCAA announces Wednesday
By Meghan Rest, Sports Editor
March 11, 2020
The men's and women's NCAA Tournaments will be played without fans, the NCAA announced Wednesday, in response to growing concerns over the coronavirus. Only essential staff, coaches and limited family members will be able to attend this year's tournaments. Read More »...
Wisconsin seals Illinois women’s hoops’ season in Big Ten Tournament first round
By Claire O, Staff Writer
March 5, 2020
Senior forward Ali Andrews led the Illini with 15 points as Wisconsin defeated Illinois, 71-55, Wednesday at the Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis. Illinois had played Wisconsin once previously this season, losing, 73-64, in Champaign on February 2. The two teams played similarly in the first, with ...
Illini fall to Wildcats in regular-season closer
By Nithin Reddy, Staff Writer
March 2, 2020
The Illinois women’s basketball team fell to the Northwestern Wildcats, 75-58, in Evanston, Illinois, Saturday. The No. 14-ranked Wildcats claimed their ninth-straight victory, while the Illini dropped their sixth-straight game. This season has gone in the opposite direction for the two teams — Nor...
Illini skid in State Farm Center season finale
By Claire O'Brien, Staff Writer
February 27, 2020
Senior forward Ali Andrews led all scorers with 16 points as Michigan State defeated Illinois, 72-58, Wednesday in Champaign. The two teams last faced off on January 24, 2019, at Michigan State. The Spartans won, 77-60. Before the game, both teams’ senior classes were honored with a rose presentation ...
Holešínská reflects on childhood tennis career
By Claire O'Brien, Staff Writer
February 24, 2020
Illinois women’s basketball senior Petra Holešínská might be known for making threes on the basketball court, but she almost took her talents to the tennis court. Holešínská started off playing tennis since her father enjoys tennis. His daughter didn’t enjoy the sport, however, and would rather...
Second-half skid leads to Illini loss
By Claire O'Brien, Staff Writer
February 20, 2020
The Illinois women’s basketball team lost at Michigan, 80-59, Wednesday. Coming into the game, the Illini last played the Wolverines on February 17, 2019, in Champaign. Michigan won, 70-56. The Illini began the game on a strong note, leading, 23-15, during the middle of the opening period. The W...
Illini look forward to match against Wolverines
By Nithin Reddy, Staff Writer
February 19, 2020
The Illinois women’s basketball team is in Ann Arbor, Michigan, tonight to face the Michigan Wolverines at 6 p.m. The Illini are coming off a 70-58 loss against the Purdue Boilermakers of Illinois’ Senior Day. Before the game started, the Illini honored the senior class, but once the game started,...
