PITTSBURGH, Pa. — The Fighting Illini women’s basketball team won just seven games all of last season.
They’ve equaled that total this season in just eight games.
Behind hot shooting both inside and out, Illinois blasted Pittsburgh 92-71 to improve to 7-1.
Adalia McKenzie tallied a career high 24 points. Three other Illini scored in double figures: Makira Cook with 22 points, Jada Peebles with 20, and Genesis Bryant with 17.
After the game, Cook said everyone on the team is capable of having a big scoring night.
“I think we all just share the ball,” Cook said. “We don’t care who scores. We’re all really good 1-through-13, so just whoever gets it (the ball), do what you have to do.”
Illinois head coach Shauna Green was especially complimentary of Cook’s play Tuesday night. Green says she wants Cook to be aggressive on offense.
“I want her to have that killer mindset all the time of hunt those shots off of every screen,” Green said, “and I really thought she came out aggressive, in an attack mode, and played with that confidence I want her to play with.”
Illinois made 14-of-24 shots from three-point range, led by Peebles who was 6-of-7 from long distance.
Kendall Bostic was the top Illini rebounder with 11. Cook led Illinois with 9 assists.
The Illini led 18-13 after one quarter before running away in the second period 32-17 to take a 20-point halftime lead.
Dayshanette Harris led the Panthers with 16 points.
Next for Illinois is a trip to Indiana for the Big Ten conference opener on Sunday. The Hoosiers are ranked 5th in the country with a perfect 7-0 record this season.