LOS ANGELES, CA (Chambana Today) – The No. 25 Illinois women’s basketball team saw its program-record eight-game Big Ten winning streak come to an end Thursday night, falling to the No. 3 UCLA Bruins 70-55 at Pauley Pavilion.
The Fighting Illini fought hard throughout the game, especially in the third quarter when they outscored UCLA 21-11 to close the gap to just four points. Despite the effort, Illinois struggled to make up the difference in the final stretch, and UCLA’s home-court advantage ultimately proved too much to overcome.
Adalia McKenzie led the Illini scoring attack, finishing with 18 points. McKenzie, who played all 40 minutes for the third consecutive game, contributed 12 of her points in the second half. She also pulled down four rebounds and added two steals. In her first career start, freshman Berry Wallace had a breakout performance, contributing 13 points, six rebounds, and two assists. Wallace knocked down two of her four three-point attempts and showed her potential as an impactful player for Illinois in the future. Genesis Bryant also played a crucial role in the loss, scoring 10 points— all in the second half— while dishing out eight assists. Bryant has now scored in double figures in nine consecutive games, continuing to be a steady playmaker for the Illini. Kendall Bostic, who has been a consistent force in the paint for Illinois all season, tallied eight points and grabbed 11 rebounds in this matchup. The senior also had two blocks and two steals, further solidifying her all-around contributions.
With the loss, Illinois now looks ahead to their next challenge: a matchup against No. 4 USC on Sunday, scheduled for 3 p.m.