Kendall Bostic’s double-double helps Illinois women beat No. 23 Iowa 62-57
CHAMPAIGN — Kendall Bostic had 17 points and 14 rebounds, Genesis Bryant scored seven of her 12 points in the fourth quarter and Illinois beat No. 23 Iowa 62-57 on Thursday night.
Illinois (12-4, 2-3 Big Ten) won its second series meeting in the last 10 games, including a 90-86 win at home on Jan. 1, 2023. The Illini on Wednesday announced they will be without senior guard Makira Cook and sophomore guard Gretchen Dolan for the rest of the season.
Iowa (12-4, 2-3), coming off a 74-66 loss to No. 8 Maryland, has lost back-to-back games for the first time since Dec. 1, 2022.
Illinois trailed 29-20 with 4:09 left before halftime before closing on a 7-0 run. Then Adalia McKenzie began the second-half scoring with a 3-pointer and the Ilini led the rest of the third quarter.
Iowa missed eight straight shots spanning halftime.
The Hawkeyes tied it at 50 with 8:29 left in the fourth but only made two of their next eight shots. Bostic made a basket on back-to-back possessions, including a three-point play, to go ahead 57-53 and Bryant added a 3-pointer with 2:31 left for a six-point lead.
McKenzie also scored 12 points for Illinois and Jasmine Brown-Hagger added 10.
Hannah Stuelke had 18 points, 13 rebounds and four assists for Iowa. Lucy Olsen added 16 points to go with five assists.
Iowa was hurt by going 8 of 17 from the free-throw line and turning it over 18 times.
Illinois has the weekend off before playing at Indiana on Jan. 16. Iowa hosts the Hoosiers on Sunday.