Chambana Sun

A late free throw by Makira Cook secured a 74-73 victory for Illinois over Nebraska in a closely contested Senior Day game at the State Farm Center. Illinois managed to keep Nebraska scoreless for the last two-and-a-half minutes, ending the game with a decisive 6-0 run.

Illinois only led for 89 seconds in the fourth quarter but managed to hold on until the end, marking their first home win against Nebraska in over seven years. The team honored six seniors and fifth-year players after the game, with three players scoring in double figures.

Makira Cook led Illinois with 20 points, surpassing the 1,500-point milestone during an and-1 layup in the third quarter. She also contributed six rebounds and five assists. Kendall Bostic recorded her fifth consecutive double-double with 12 points and ten rebounds, adding four assists and one steal. Genesis Bryant scored 17 points while playing all 40 minutes of the game.

Camille Hobby added nine points, missing only one shot, while Shay Bollin scored nine points off the bench. Gretchen Dolan contributed seven points, including five crucial ones in the final minutes.

The Illini defense was critical in maintaining their lead as they held Nebraska to just over 31% shooting from the field and prevented them from making any three-pointers in the last quarter.

The game saw multiple lead changes throughout its course. After trailing briefly early on, Illinois took control with a series of runs that kept them ahead at various stages of play. The Illini's persistence paid off as they closed out strong defensively to secure their victory.

Illinois will now enter the Big Ten Tournament as a ninth seed and is set to face eighth-seeded Maryland next at Target Center in Minneapolis.

Head coach Shauna Green expressed pride in her team's resilience: "I'm just really proud of our guys... It was a special night with it being Senior Night."

Kendall Bostic commented on learning from past losses: "I think we're a team that learns well and adapts well... Knowing we have that is really nice."

Makira Cook emphasized focus heading into future games: "As long as we work and stay disciplined, then we can make a really big run."

Illinois concludes its regular season on a positive note as they prepare for upcoming challenges in tournament play.