Thursday, February 6
Champaign, Ill.
6 p.m. CT
Northwestern
at
lllinois
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
'Cats Head Downstate To Clash With Illinois On Thursday
2/5/2025 3:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Northwestern looks to secure series split with Fighting Illini
EVANSTON, Ill. (February 5, 2025) – Northwestern (7-13, 0-9 B1G) makes the trek south down Interstate 57 on Thursday to wrap up its regular season series with Illinois. Tip-off from inside State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. is slated for 6 p.m. CT.
LAST TIME OUT
Taylor Williams secured her team-high eighth double-double of 2024-25 as No. 16 Michigan State fended off Northwestern, 89-75, this past Sunday inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. Williams scored in double figures for the 11th time this season, closing her afternoon with 18 points and 12 assists. Across Northwestern's last five games, the graduate transfer is averaging 12.8 points and 10.4 rebounds.
Caileigh Walsh reached double figures in scoring for the sixth time in her last seven outings, finishing with 12 points. Casey Harter and Melannie Daley each added 11 points, with Harter connecting on a career-high tying three three-point field goals. Grace Sullivan scored in double figures for the 14th time this season, a mark that is tied for the team lead alongside Walsh, chipping in 10 points.
SCOUTING ILLINOIS
Fresh off its first ranked road win since 2019, a 66-65 upset of No. 14 Maryland, Illinois has won four straight games to run its record to 17-5 (7-4 B1G). The Fighting Illini are receiving votes in both of the major polls.
After knocking down the deciding free throws in Illinois' aforementioned win to punctuate a week in which she averaged 20.3 points and shot just shy of 45 percent from the field, Genesis Bryant was tabbed the Big Ten Player of the Week on Monday afternoon. Kendall Bostic, who finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds in the Fighting Illini's win over Northwestern last month, was recently named to the Women's College All-Star Game Watch List. Bostic, who averages 16.0 points and 11.3 rebounds, has 49 career double-doubles to her name, 15 of which have come this season.
Piloted by third-year head coach Shauna Green, who served as an assistant coach on head coach Joe McKeown's staff during the 2015-16 season, Illinois has proven to be a difficult out within the confines of the State Farm Center, going 11-2 on its home floor this season, with a pair of those wins coming over nationally ranked opposition.
SERIES STUFF
Thursday evening's matchup marks the 89th installment of the rivalry between Northwestern and Illinois on the hardwood in women's basketball. The 'Cats will be looking to snap a five-game skid to the Fighting Illini, a slide that was extended by an 85-60 setback on January 23 at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Kyla Jones paced Northwestern in the defeat with 14 points.
Illinois' recent run of success has seen it trim Northwestern's lead in the all-time series to 49-39 (.557).
The Wildcats' last victory inside State Farm Center came back on February 20, 2022 when Northwestern coasted to an 82-59 win. Veronica Burton stuffed the stat sheet for the 'Cats, finishing with 13 points, 14 assists, and nine steals, while Courtney Shaw put up a game-high 20 points.
UP NEXT
Northwestern plays host to Penn State at 1 p.m. CT on Sunday inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. The matchup against the Nittany Lions will serve as the program's annual celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day.
LAST TIME OUT
Taylor Williams secured her team-high eighth double-double of 2024-25 as No. 16 Michigan State fended off Northwestern, 89-75, this past Sunday inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. Williams scored in double figures for the 11th time this season, closing her afternoon with 18 points and 12 assists. Across Northwestern's last five games, the graduate transfer is averaging 12.8 points and 10.4 rebounds.
Caileigh Walsh reached double figures in scoring for the sixth time in her last seven outings, finishing with 12 points. Casey Harter and Melannie Daley each added 11 points, with Harter connecting on a career-high tying three three-point field goals. Grace Sullivan scored in double figures for the 14th time this season, a mark that is tied for the team lead alongside Walsh, chipping in 10 points.
SCOUTING ILLINOIS
Fresh off its first ranked road win since 2019, a 66-65 upset of No. 14 Maryland, Illinois has won four straight games to run its record to 17-5 (7-4 B1G). The Fighting Illini are receiving votes in both of the major polls.
After knocking down the deciding free throws in Illinois' aforementioned win to punctuate a week in which she averaged 20.3 points and shot just shy of 45 percent from the field, Genesis Bryant was tabbed the Big Ten Player of the Week on Monday afternoon. Kendall Bostic, who finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds in the Fighting Illini's win over Northwestern last month, was recently named to the Women's College All-Star Game Watch List. Bostic, who averages 16.0 points and 11.3 rebounds, has 49 career double-doubles to her name, 15 of which have come this season.
Piloted by third-year head coach Shauna Green, who served as an assistant coach on head coach Joe McKeown's staff during the 2015-16 season, Illinois has proven to be a difficult out within the confines of the State Farm Center, going 11-2 on its home floor this season, with a pair of those wins coming over nationally ranked opposition.
SERIES STUFF
Thursday evening's matchup marks the 89th installment of the rivalry between Northwestern and Illinois on the hardwood in women's basketball. The 'Cats will be looking to snap a five-game skid to the Fighting Illini, a slide that was extended by an 85-60 setback on January 23 at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Kyla Jones paced Northwestern in the defeat with 14 points.
Illinois' recent run of success has seen it trim Northwestern's lead in the all-time series to 49-39 (.557).
The Wildcats' last victory inside State Farm Center came back on February 20, 2022 when Northwestern coasted to an 82-59 win. Veronica Burton stuffed the stat sheet for the 'Cats, finishing with 13 points, 14 assists, and nine steals, while Courtney Shaw put up a game-high 20 points.
UP NEXT
Northwestern plays host to Penn State at 1 p.m. CT on Sunday inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. The matchup against the Nittany Lions will serve as the program's annual celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day.
Players Mentioned
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