Northwestern
Illinois
'Cats Set For In-State Clash With Illinois Thursday On BTN
1/22/2025 3:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Northwestern looks to snap four-game skid against Fighting Illini
LAST TIME OUT
Four Wildcats scored in double figures as Northwestern gave No. 24 Minnesota all it could handle, ultimately dropping an 87-82 decision to the visiting Golden Gophers this past Sunday at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Grace Sullivan led the 'Cats, putting up 18 points on 9-of-13 shooting, in addition to recording a career-high four blocks. Kyla Jones and Caileigh Walsh added 17 points apiece, while Taylor Williams picked up her seventh double-double of 2024-25, closing her day with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Led by a seven-assist outing from Caroline Lau, the 'Cats piled up a season-high 29 assists, their most in a game since dishing out 29 helpers in an 87-69 win over Omaha on November 12, 2023. The Wildcats also protected the basketball, committing a season-low five turnovers, the program's fewest since February 17, 2021 vs. Nebraska (4).
SCOUTING ILLINOIS
Illinois enters Thursday's in-state showdown at 13-5 overall and 3-4 in Big Ten Conference action. Winners of two of their last three games, the Fighting Illini are coming off an 86-68 setback to No. 22 Michigan State last Sunday at State Farm Center.
Illinois is led by third-year head coach Shauna Green, who served as an assistant coach with the Wildcats during the 2015-16 season. Green has piloted the Fighting Illini to back-to-back postseason appearances, most recently winning the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT) last season.
Three-time All-Big Ten honoree Kendall Bostic is in the midst of an outstanding campaign. Bostic, who averages 16.2 points and 11.2 rebounds, has a Big Ten-best 11 double-doubles to her name this season. Bostic has finished in double figures in scoring in all but two games this season and has scored north of 20 points five times. Genesis Bryant ranks second on the team in scoring, contributing 13.9 points per contest. Bryant, a two-time All-Big Ten pick, has elevated her game to another level during conference play, averaging a team-high 18.4 points.
SERIES STUFF
Separated by just 150 miles on Interstate 57, Northwestern and Illinois will meet for the 88th time in Thursday's nationally televised clash. After dropping 14 straight meetings to the Wildcats, the Fighting Illini have turned the tide of late, sweeping the regular season series between the two teams in back-to-back campaigns to trim Northwestern's lead in the all-time series to 49-38 (.563). Since head coach Joe McKeown's arrival in Evanston, Northwestern has gone 8-6 (.571) on its home court against Illinois.
In last season's meeting at Welsh-Ryan Arena, Northwestern shot just under 27 percent from the field as it battled through a challenging afternoon on the offensive end in a 93-52 defeat.
UP NEXT
Northwestern hits the road on Tuesday, January 28 to battle Iowa in a 7 p.m. CT tilt that will air on Big Ten Network.
