Chambana Sun

The Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketball team is set to host Eastern Illinois at the State Farm Center in Champaign on Thursday, November 14, 2024. The game will begin at 6 p.m. CT and will be available for viewing through B1G+, a streaming service of non-televised events produced by the Big Ten Network.

This matchup marks the 16th meeting between Illinois and Eastern Illinois, with the Illini leading the series 10-5. The last encounter took place in 2013 during a WNIT matchup, where Illinois secured a victory. Currently ranked No. 23/24 in the Associated Press Top-25 Poll, Illinois has started their season with wins over Florida State and Marquette.

Illinois head coach Shauna Green is seeking her 200th career win as a head coach on Thursday. Under her leadership, the team has achieved significant milestones including back-to-back top-five season attendances at State Farm Center and three consecutive seasons ranked in the AP Top-25 Poll.

The game will also feature promotions such as Military Appreciation Night and "217 Night," offering special ticket prices and merchandise discounts. Fans unable to attend can listen to live commentary by Mike Koon on the Busey Bank Illini Sports Network or access live stats online.

Eastern Illinois enters this game following losses against North Dakota and North Dakota State. This visit marks their first trip to Champaign since 2013.

Head Coach Shauna Green recently received a two-year contract extension, pending approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. The new agreement could extend her tenure through at least the 2029-30 season if performance thresholds are met.

Illinois returns four players who have scored over 1,000 career points, tying them with Baylor, Notre Dame, and Kansas State for most in NCAA women's basketball. Among these players is Kendall Bostic, who recently reached 1,000 career rebounds—a feat achieved by only four players in program history.