The Fighting Illini were defeated by the #23 Purdue Boilermakers, 76-65, in their season finale on March 3rd. Although they lost the game, senior Karisma Penn became the 15th player in Big Ten history to grab 1,000 career rebounds. She finished the game against Purdue with 23 points and eight rebounds.

This game will be the third meeting between Illinois and Wisconsin this season. Illinois is 2-0 against Wisconsin this season. In their first meeting, the Illini beat the Badgers, 64-56. They beat the Badgers, 60-53, in their second meeting. Adrienne GodBold has scored a combined 34 points against the Badgers this season. Penn also recorded a double-double (26 points and 14 rebounds) in the last meeting.

Wisconsin comes into Thursday’s match-up with an overall record of 11-18 and a Big Ten record of 3-13. The Badgers are 2-8 in their last ten games and have lost five straight games.

The Badgers have two players averaging double-digit points so far this season.

Nov. 16, 2012; Spokane, WA, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs center Shelby Cheslek (44) fights for position with Wisconsin Badgers forward Cassie Rochel (43) during the second half at the McCarthey Athletic Center. The Bulldogs would go onto beat the Badgers by a final score of 62-53. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

They are junior Morgan Paige (16.1 points per game) and sophomore Jacki Gulczynski (12.6 points per game).

In the first meeting, both Paige and Gulczynski recorded double-digit points with 23 and 10 points respectively. However, Gulczynski only scored four points in their last meeting with Illinois. Paige led her team with 14 points in the last meeting.

Morgan Paige is among the best scorers in the Big Ten. She is currently ranked sixth in the Big Ten in scoring.

The Badgers are ranked eleventh in the conference in scoring offense, but they stay in games with their defense.

They are ranked sixth in scoring defense (59.1 points per game).

On the boards, Wisconsin is led by Jacki Gulczynski (5.9 rebounds per game), junior Cassie Rochel (9.2 rebounds per game), and senior Tiera Stephen (6.4 rebounds per game).

In the last meeting, both Rochel and Stephen accounted for 22 of their team’s 39 rebounds. Rochel led the team with 12 rebounds and Stephen hauled in 10 rebounds of her own.

Rochel is ranked third in the Big Ten in rebounding this season. As a team, Wisconsin is ranked eighth in rebounding margin (+0.1).

This will be the 66th meeting between the Fighting Illini and the Badgers. Illinois leads the series, 34-31.

One bright spot for the Fighting Illini is that they are 4-1 in first round games of the Big Ten conference tournament. Illinois will enter the conference tournament as the 6th-seed and Wisconsin will enter as the 11th-seed. The winner will play the 3rd-seeded Purdue Boilermakers on Friday.

The Illini are trying to come back from back-to-back losses to the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Purdue Boilermakers. Illinois has been a consistent team all year, but is powered by Penn and GodBold.

Penn has been the scoring and rebounding threat for the Illini this season. The team is 10-3 when she scored 20+ points. GodBold can score, but is better defensively. This past season, GodBold took home the award for Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

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The Fighting Illini defeated the Minnesota Golden Gophers in their last game, 76-66. They had three players score over 20 points in the game. The biggest players for the Illini were Karisma Penn and Adrienne GodBold. Both recorded double-doubles as Penn recorded 22 points and 11 rebounds while GodBold recorded 20 points and 10 rebounds.

This game will be the second meeting between Illinois and Wisconsin this season. In their first meeting, the Illini beat the Badgers, 64-56. GodBold led the Illini with 18 points in that game. She also hauled in 13 rebounds and recorded six steals to get the Fighting Illini the win in Madison.

Wisconsin comes into Monday’s match-up with an overall record of 11-14 and a Big Ten record of 3-9. They are 1-2 in their last three games. They are coming into this match-up after losing to the Purdue Boilermakers, 48-58, at the Kohl Center in Madison.

February 7, 2013; Columbus, OH, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard/forward Jacki Gulczynski (35) takes a foul shot against the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Schottenstein Center. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

The Badgers have two players averaging double-digit points so far this season.

They are junior Morgan Paige (16.7 points per game) and sophomore Jacki Gulczynski (12.7 points per game).

In the first meeting against the Fighting Illini, both Paige and Gulczynski recorded double-digit points. Paige led the team with 23 points while Gulczynski had 10 points.

Morgan Paige is among the best scorers in the Big Ten. She is currently ranked seventh in the Big Ten in scoring.

The Badgers are ranked eleventh in the conference in scoring offense, but they stay in games with their defense. They are ranked sixth in scoring defense (59.6 points per game).

On the boards, Wisconsin is led by Jacki Gulczynski (6.4 rebounds per game), junior Cassie Rochel (8.5 rebounds per game), and senior Tiera Stephen (6.0 rebounds per game).

In the first meeting in Madison, Gulczynski, Rochel, and Stephen combined for 25 of their team’s 35 rebounds. Gulczynski led the team with nine rebounds while Rochel and Stephens both recorded eight rebounds. Stephens also added 14 points to her stat line the first time around.

Rochel is ranked fifth in the Big Ten in rebounding this season. As a team, Wisconsin is ranked ninth in rebounding margin (-0.3).

This will be the 65th meeting between the Fighting Illini and the Badgers. Illinois leads the series, 33-31.

Illinois will need to do a better job rebounding than they did the first time against Wisconsin. Everyone knows that the Fighting Illini are going to get their points each game, but can they take their game to the next step and out-rebound the Badgers on Monday.

Penn and GodBold will score in double-figures and might even be guaranteed double-doubles. However, Illinois should be able to win if Penn and GodBold can get some help from Amber Moore and/or Ivory Crawford.

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The Illini are coming off of a big win over the Iowa Hawkeyes, 74-62. The Fighting Illini had four of their starters score double-digits in the win.

The four players were Adrienne GodBold (17 points), Amber Moore (17 points), Karisma Penn (18 points), and Ivory Crawford (14 points). Moore stepped up her play against the Hawkeyes. She went 5-of-8 from beyond the arc and was an added weapon from 3-point land for the Illini.

Nov. 16, 2012; Spokane, WA, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs center Shelby Cheslek (44) fights for position with Wisconsin Badgers forward Cassie Rochel (43) during the second half at the McCarthey Athletic Center. The Bulldogs would go onto beat the Badgers by a final score of 62-53. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

Wisconsin comes into Sunday’s match-up with an overall record of 10-11 and a Big Ten record of 2-6. The Badgers opened conference play with five straight losses. They are coming off of a close two point victory over the Penn State Nittany Lions, 63-61.

The Badgers have two players averaging double-digit points so far this season. They are junior Morgan Paige (17.1 points per game) and sophomore Jacki Gulczynski (11.5 points per game).

Both of these players are in the Big Ten’s Top 25 in scoring. Paige is ranked 6th in the conference while Gulczynski is ranked 24th.

The Badgers are ranked 11th in the conference in scoring offense, but they stay in games with their defense. They are ranked 6th in scoring defense (59.5 points per game).

On the boards, Wisconsin is led by Jacki Gulczynski (6.0 rebounds per game), junior Cassie Rochel (8.0 rebounds per game), and senior Tiera Stephen (6.0 rebounds per game).

Rochel is ranked 5th in the Big Ten in rebounding this season. As a team, Wisconsin is ranked 10th in rebounding margin (-1.1).

This will be the 64th meeting between the Fighting Illini and the Badgers. Illinois leads the series, 32-31. However, Wisconsin is 22-8 in games played in Madison, Wisconsin. They are currently riding a five game win streak in games in Madison for the series.

Just like going into the Iowa game, Amber Moore will be important to the Illini’s success. Karisma Penn and Adrienne GodBold are going to get their double-digit points, but Illinois needs a consistent third scorer.

Moore showed against Iowa that she can catch fire, especially from 3-point land. If Moore can support Penn and GodBold, then the Illini should win thair third game in the row.

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