AUSTIN, Texas— Genesis Bryant scored 17 points, leading No. 8 Illinois to a 66-57 victory over No. 9 Creighton, marking the program’s first NCAA Tournament win in 25 years.
Illinois’ defense smothered Creighton’s perimeter shooters, and the Illini dominated the rebounding battle, a critical factor in their win. Kendall Bostic contributed with 12 points and 17 rebounds, while guard Adalia McKenzie added 14 points. Illinois (22-9) advances to the second round, where they’ll face No. 1 Texas (32-3) on Monday, after the Longhorns defeated No. 16 William & Mary 105-61.
“I’d say it’s a dream come true to be here, but to get the win makes it even better,” said McKenzie. “We’re not done yet. We’re hungry, and we’re ready for more.”
Creighton (26-6) was led by Morgan Maly, who scored 18 points, and Lauren Jensen, who finished with 17. Despite their stellar careers—each player having scored over 2,000 points—both struggled to find their rhythm against Illinois’ defense. The Bluejays shot only 36% from the field and hit just 6 of 22 from beyond the arc. “We played a bit tight,” said Creighton coach Jim Flanery. “Whenever we got close, Illinois made big plays to push their lead back out.”
The Illini led 51-41 early in the fourth quarter before Creighton mounted a comeback, cutting the lead to 58-54 after a tough layup from Jensen with 2:08 remaining. However, Illinois responded when Bryant missed two free throws on the next possession, but freshman Berry Wallace grabbed the rebound and scored an easy putback.
“It was amazing to watch her as a freshman, showing that poise and finishing the play,” Bryant said. “She’s been making plays like that all year.”
Illinois’ third-year head coach, Shauna Green, emphasized how meaningful the win was for her team. After winning the WBIT championship last season, the team set their sights on not just making the NCAA Tournament, but advancing in it. “This win was huge. We came here to compete for championships, and this group has shown resilience all year,” Green said. “I wanted this so badly for them, and they wanted it just as much.”
Key Takeaways:
Illinois: The Illini’s dominance on the boards was a game-changer, out-rebounding Creighton 42-32 and winning the second-chance points battle 32-22. Despite entering the tournament on a four-game losing streak, Illinois found their form when it mattered most.
Creighton: The Bluejays, with four senior starters, came into the tournament with high expectations, having made four straight NCAA appearances. However, they struggled to get past the first round, a disappointing result for a team aiming for a deeper run.
Key Moment:
Creighton fought back from a 12-point deficit to narrow the gap to just two points early in the third quarter. However, Illinois answered with back-to-back three-pointers from Brynn Shoup-Hill, a player who had struggled with her outside shooting during the season, making the key plays when the team needed it most.
A Tough Exit:
Creighton’s women’s team is eliminated from the tournament, following the men’s team, which was also knocked out in the second round by No. 1 Auburn on Saturday.
