CHAMPAIGN — The last time the Illinois women’s basketball team won 18 games, Barack Obama had just started his second term as president.
The Fighting Illini matched that total with a 69-62 win over Minnesota on Sunday in front of 4,533 fans at State Farm Center in Champaign.
Makira Cook led Illinois with 21 points, though she struggled to a 6-for-18 afternoon shooting.
Her teammate, Kendall Bostic, says Cook helps her team in myriad ways, even when her shot isn’t falling.
“She does so much for our team. She doesn’t just score for us,” Bostic said. “She is a leader, you know, on the court and off the court. Her defense is great. Her communication is great. She keeps us together.”
Cook keyed a late 9-0 run that helped Illinois put the game away after Minnesota had tied it 60-60 late in the fourth quarter.
Bostic added another double-double, with ten points and ten rebounds. Adalia McKenzie chipped in 20 points and nine rebounds.
Illinois head coach Shauna Green says she wants to see more consistency in two areas.
“In order to continue to win in this league, we’ve got to defend, and we have to rebound,” Green said. “Our offense may come and go, but if we can have those two things be consistent, it’s shown that it’s won us games, you know, it’s won us 18 games this year.”
The Golden Gophers were led by forward Alanna Micheaux with 24 points and eleven rebounds.
The Illini are 18-6 this season, with an 8-5 record in Big Ten play. Minnesota fell to 9-14 overall and 2-10 in the conference.
Illinois will travel to Nebraska to face the Cornhuskers on Thursday.
MINNESOTA (9-14)
Heyer 1-6 0-0 2, Micheaux 11-17 2-2 24, Battle 1-4 2-2 4, Braun 3-8 2-2 11, Czinano 1-3 3-4 5, Gradwell 3-6 2-2 9, Oberg 0-0 1-2 1, Borowicz 1-10 0-0 3, Cayton 1-4 0-0 3, Hammond 0-2 0-0 0, Totals 22-60 12-14 62
ILLINOIS (18-6)
Bostic 5-13 0-2 10, Shoup-Hill 2-2 1-2 6, Bryant 4-11 0-0 9, Cook 6-18 8-8 21, McKenzie 9-16 2-4 20, Lopes 0-0 0-0 0, Oden 0-1 0-0 0, Peebles 1-4 0-0 3, Ndour 0-0 0-0 0, Totals 27-65 11-16 69
| Minnesota | 14 | 21 | 10 | 17 | — | 62 |
| Illinois | 19 | 16 | 18 | 16 | — | 69 |
3-Point Goals_Minnesota 6-20 (Heyer 0-4, Braun 3-5, Gradwell 1-2, Borowicz 1-7, Cayton 1-2), Illinois 4-13 (Shoup-Hill 1-1, Bryant 1-5, Cook 1-3, McKenzie 0-1, Peebles 1-3). Assists_Minnesota 14 (Borowicz 5), Illinois 14 (Cook 5). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_Minnesota 40 (Micheaux 11), Illinois 39 (Bostic 10). Total Fouls_Minnesota 15, Illinois 13. Technical Fouls_None. A_4,533.