by CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini women’s basketball team (3-1) turned in an impressive, all-around team effort on Sunday afternoon in an 86-82 victory over the visiting UC Riverside Highlanders (2-2) at State Farm Center.
Five Illini reached double-figures in scoring, led by junior guard Jada Peebles who tallied a season-high 17 points. Peebles was joined by starting backcourt mate Aaliyah Nye (Gun Lake Tribe/Pottawatomi) who notched 15 points by knocking down a career-most five three-pointers on just six attempts.
However, it was a stellar offensive effort by the Illini reserves that helped the Orange and Blue hold off UCR. Graduate guard Sara Anastasieska filled up the stat sheet with 16 points, while tying for the team lead with six rebounds, and dishing out a team-high five assists, all season-high totals. Redshirt senior C Eva Rubin also turned in her best offensive performance of the year with a perfect 5-for-5 performance from the floor to tally 11 points.
Freshman guard Adalia McKenzie had a breakout performance, tallying 15 points, while matching Anastasieska and Nye for the team lead with six rebounds. McKenzie also dished out a pair of assists, her first as an Illini.
The Illini finished with a 44-22 edge in bench scoring, while the team recorded a season-most 19 assists from seven different players. The ball movement, and the ability to capitalize on a 24-8 edge in fast-break points, allowed the Illini to shoot a season-best 54.5 percent from the field overall, and 47.4 percent (9-for-19) from three-point range.
