CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois dominated in its regular-season opener, defeating Long Island, 75-40, in the team’s first game under head coach Shauna Green.
Kendall Bostic recorded the seventh double-double of her career, recording a game-high and career-best 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Makira Cook notched 14 points on 66.7 percent shooting in her Illini debut.
Twelve different players registered minutes in the 35-point win, while five Illini recorded at least 10 points. Genesis Bryant and Aicha Ndour each notched double-digit points with 13 and 10, respectively, in their Illinois debuts, and Adalia McKenzie scored 12 points.
The Fighting Illini controlled the boards, outrebounding the Sharks, 53-35, in the win. Illinois took advantage of its second-chance opportunities, scoring 22 points on its 21 offensive rebounds.
Illinois held LIU to 23.7 percent shooting and allowed just three 3-pointers, while the hosts shot 47.3% from the field in the win.
The first Illini starting lineup of Green’s tenure featured three returners – Bostic, McKenzie, and Jayla Oden – and two newcomers, Cook and Brynn Shoup-Hill, who both played under Green at Dayton last season.
Bostic and Cook led the offensive charge in the first quarter, with Cook scoring 10 of the Illini’s 18 points in the opening frame. Cook hit four of her first six shots in the first quarter to lead all scorers with 10 points through 10 minutes, while Illinois dominated the boards,…
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