Illinois Upsets No. 23 Iowa in Thrilling Big Ten Women’s Basketball Clash

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois women’s basketball team secured a hard-fought 62-57 victory over No. 23 Iowa on Thursday night at the State Farm Center, marking their second win over a ranked opponent this season. Despite being shorthanded due to season-ending injuries to two key guards, the Illini (12-4, 2-3 Big Ten) showcased resilience and defensive prowess to overcome the Hawkeyes (12-4, 2-3).

Kendall Bostic led the charge for Illinois with a double-double, scoring 17 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. Genesis Bryant added 12 points, including crucial free throws in the final seconds to seal the win. Adalia McKenzie contributed 12 points and played lockdown defense on Iowa’s leading scorer, Lucy Olsen, who finished with 16 points on 7-of-16 shooting.

The game was a defensive battle, with Illinois holding Iowa to a season-low 40% shooting from the field and 25% from beyond the arc. Iowa’s Hannah Stuelke led her team with 18 points and 13 rebounds, but the Hawkeyes struggled to find consistent offense throughout the night.

Illinois overcame a slow start, trailing 11-4 early, but rallied with a 10-0 run to take a 14-11 lead in the first quarter. The Illini maintained their defensive intensity, forcing Iowa into a scoring drought in the second quarter and closing the half on a 7-0 run to trail by just two points, 29-27, at halftime.

The second half saw Illinois take control, building a seven-point lead in the third quarter before Iowa clawed back to make it a one-point game heading into the fourth. Despite shooting just 6-of-15 in the final quarter, Illinois capitalized on Iowa’s struggles at the free-throw line, where the Hawkeyes went 3-of-10 in the fourth frame.

The victory was a significant morale boost for Illinois, which announced earlier this week that guards Gretchen Dolan and Makira Cook would miss the remainder of the season due to injuries. Head coach Shauna Green praised her team’s resilience, stating, ‘This is exactly what we want our program to be about — fighting through adversity and finding ways to win.’

Illinois now looks ahead to a challenging road game against Indiana (11-4, 3-1 Big Ten) on Thursday. The Illini will aim to build on this momentum as they continue their push for postseason contention.