Illini Comeback Falls Short in First Loss - University of Illinois Athletics - Fighting Illini

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Illinois women's basketball suffered its first loss of the 2022-23 campaign, an 83-80 effort against Delaware. The Blue Hens are the second NCAA Tournament team from a year ago the Orange and Blue have faced this season (Charlotte). Illinois saw Adalia McKenzie and Makira Cook record double-double performances in the setback.

Prior to the loss, Illinois had tied for the second-best start in program history with six-straight wins. The Orange and Blue now own a 6-1 record after three weeks of play. Delaware improved to 4-2 overall.

Kendall Bostic scored Illinois' first points of the game, and over the next 1:39, the Illini would jump ahead to a quick 8-0 lead and force a Delaware timeout just 2:41 into the action. Delaware 8-0 run over 1:46 to tie the game at 21-21 before Adalia McKenzie split a pair of free throws to give the Illini a 22-21 lead with 1:04 remaining in the period. That lead would hold for the remainder of the quarter.

Delaware knotted the game again at 31-31 with 6:01 on the clock in the second quarter using a 5-0 run. Genesis Bryant followed with a 3-pointer – her second of the game. The Blue Hens would go on to take a 38-26 lead with 1:32 remaining and push their lead to four at 40-36 heading into the break.

Trailing for the first time coming out of halftime, Illinois immediately knotted things up at 40-40 before McKenzie connected on a free throw to give the Illini the lead at 41-40. That run would extend out to a 10-0 span before Delaware tallied a second half basket to bring the score to 46-42. UD followed with two more buckets for a 6-0 run that prompted a Shauna Green timeout with the score even at 46-46. A 3-pointer by the Blue Hens at the buzzer would make the score 53-50 to end the third quarter.

Delaware fouled Bryant while shooting from deep and she would go on to make all three free throws to tie the score at 57-57. The fourth quarter would go on to see 60 combined points between the sides. Bryant would catch and shoot on an inbounds play – hitting a 3-pointer with 6.0 seconds remaining to bring the Illini within one at 81-80. The play marked a 7-0 Illinois run across an 8-second span. Delaware would ultimately make 2-of-4 free throws across the final ticks for the 83-80 final score.

Four Fighting Illini finished in double-digit scoring, led by McKenzie's season-high 22 points. Bryant tallied 18 followed by Makira Cook's 16 points and Jada Peebles' 11.

McKenzie added 10 rebounds to record the first double-double of her career. Cook registered 10 assists for the second double-double of her career – first at Illinois. The last time two Illini recorded a double-double was Dec. 2, 2020 vs. Valparaiso.

The Fighting Illini are back in action with the ACC/B1G Challenge on Wednesday when the team heads east to visit Pittsburgh. Tipoff on the ACC Network is slated for 4 p.m. CT.

POST-GAME NOTES

Player Notes:

Kendall Bostic finished with 6 points and 4 rebounds.
Adalia McKenzie recorded the first double double of her career with 22 points and 10 rebounds.
- McKenzie has scored double digits in all seven games this season and nine consecutive contests dating back to last season.
- The 20-point output marked the second of McKenzie's career.
Brynn Shoup-Hill tallied 7 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks.
Makira Cook registered the second double-double of her career and first as an Illini, posting 16 points, 10 assists and six rebounds.
Genesis Bryant scored 18 points - her second-highest output as an Illini.
Jada Peebles recorded 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field, which included a 2-for-3 mark from beyond the arc.

Team Notes:

First basket was scored by Kendall Bostic, a layup a minute into the action.
Illinois trailed at halftime for the first time of the 2022-23 season.
Illinois saw four players finish in double digit scoring.
Two Illini players finished with double doubles for the first time since Dec. 2, 2020 vs. Valparaiso.
For the second time of the season, Illinois shot better from 3-point range than from the field.
- 42.4% from the field.
- 43.8% from deep.

Misc Notes:

Starters: Makira Cook, Jayla Oden, Adalia McKenzie, Brynn Shoup-Hill, Kendall Bostic. Illinois is now 6-1 with this unit.
Shauna Green is now:
Against Delaware record: 0-1
Uniforms: Illinois is now 0-1 when wearing blue uniforms
Illinois women's basketball started a season 6-0 or better four times in program history. The last time Illinois started 6-0 in a season was the 1986-87 campaign.
Friday's win over Charlotte marked the program's first regular-season neutral site win since Nov. 25, 2017 (Wichita State in Albuquerque, N.M.)
Day games record: 3-1