The 2009–10 Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketball team represented the University of Illinois in the 2009–10 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. It was the 36th year of Illinois women's basketball. The Fighting Illini were a member of the Big 10.
Offseason June 29: The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics marketing and promotions department recently placed first in the Single-Day Attendance Promotion. This was awarded by the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) for the 2008-09 season. The award was for the World's Biggest Basketball Practice promotion, held at Memorial Stadium on Oct. 11, 2008 following the Fighting Illini's sold-out football game against Minnesota.
At the event, the Illinois men's and women's basketball teams held their first practice of the season immediately following the football game on a specially constructed outdoor court in the stadium's South end zone. Over 60,000 fans witnessed the practice, which also helped raise more than $20,000 for Coaches vs. Cancer. The World's Biggest Basketball Practice marked the largest crowd ever for a men's basketball practice and is the highest attendance to witness any women's basketball event. This honor marks the third year in a row that the Illinois marketing department has been awarded gold by NACMA for a Single-Day Attendance promotion. July 2: Lisa Cermignano was hired as an assistant coach. Cermignano has 11 years of Division I coaching experience, including the last three as an assistant at Vanderbilt University. She fills the vacancy on Law's staff left by Karen Middleton, who recently became the head coach at Western Carolina University. Cermignano served as the team's defensive coordinator, and was part of Vanderbilt's recruiting efforts. In three seasons at VU, she helped lead the Commodores to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including two Sweet 16s (2008 and '09), and two Southeastern Conference (SEC) tournament titles (2007 and '09). July 29: University of Illinois incoming freshman Destiny Williams has helped lead Team USA to a berth in the quarterfinals at the 2009 FIBA Women's U19 World Championships in Bangkok. July 30: The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), on behalf of the Wade Coalition, announced the 2009-2010 preseason "Wade Watch" list for The State Farm Wade Trophy Division I Player of the Year. University of Illinois senior Jenna Smith is one of 25 named to the list, which is made up of top NCAA Division I student-athletes who best embody the spirit of Lily Margaret Wade. This is based on the following criteria: game and season statistics, leadership, character, effect on their team and overall playing ability. August 21: The 2009-10 preseason candidates list for the Women’s Wooden Award was released, naming 31 student athletes. Jenna Smith from Illinois was one of the candidates.https://www.ncaa.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/082109aaa.html
Exhibition Date Opponent Location Time Score11/08/09 vs. Lewis (Exhibition) Assembly Hall TBA 75-40
Regular season The Fighting Illini will compete in the Cal Poly Holiday Beach Classic on November 28 and 29.
Roster Jenna Smith was an all Big 10 selection the previous two seasons. Destiny Williams transferred to Baylor on January 20. The six incoming freshmen are ranked as the No. 3 recruiting class by ESPN HoopGurlz. Destiny Williams is a McDonald’s All-American. Number Name Height Position Class 00 Karisma Penn 6-2 Forward Freshman 1 Whitney Toone 5-10 Forward Senior 3 Fabiola Josil 5-7 Guard Sophomore 11 Eboni Mitchell 5-7 Guard Sophomore 12 Lydia McCully 5-9 Guard Sophomore 13 Jenna Smith 6-3 Center Senior 21 Macie Blinn 5-11 Guard Sophomore 22 Lacey Simpson 6-1 Forward Senior 24 Adrienne Godbold 5-11Guard Freshman 34 Lana Rukavina 6-3 Forward Sophomore 42 Amber Moore 5-11 Guard Freshman 44 Kersten Magrum 6-1 Forward Freshman 50 Brianna Jones 6-2 Forward Freshman
Schedule Date Opponent Location Time Score11/13/09 at Temple Philadelphia, Pa. 7:00 p.m. ET L 82-78 (OT)11/15/09 vs. Siena Assembly Hall TBA W 85-5311/18/09 vs. Central Michigan Assembly Hall TBAW 77-5911/22/09 vs. Bradley Assembly Hall TBAW 67-4511/24/09 at Illinois State Normal, Ill. 7:00 p.m. CTW 62-5111/28/09 at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Calif. 2:00 p.m. PTW 56-4711/29/09 vs. Alabama San Luis Obispo, Calif. 2:00 p.m. PTW 64-5512/02/09 at Wake Forest Winston-Salem, N.C. TBAW 65-5012/09/09 vs. Marquette Assembly Hall TBA-Big Ten Network12/19/09 vs. Oakland Assembly Hall TBA12/28/09 vs. Ohio State * Assembly Hall TBA12/31/09 vs. Penn State * Assembly Hall TBA01/03/10 vs. Wisconsin * Assembly Hall TBA01/07/10 at Indiana * Bloomington, Ind. TBA01/10/10 vs. Minnesota * Assembly Hall 3:30 p.m. CT-BTN01/14/10 at Ohio State * Columbus, Ohio TBA01/17/10 at Wisconsin * Madison, Wis. TBA01/21/10 vs. Iowa * Assembly Hall TBA01/24/10 at Penn State * University Park, Pa. TBA01/28/10 vs. Michigan * Assembly Hall TBA01/31/10 at Minnesota * Minneapolis, Minn. TBA02/04/10 at Purdue * West Lafayette, Ind. TBA02/07/10 vs. Indiana * Assembly Hall TBA02/11/10 vs. Northwestern * Assembly Hall TBA02/14/10 at Iowa * Iowa City, Iowa TBA02/18/10 at Michigan State * East Lansing, Mich. TBA02/21/10 vs. Purdue * Assembly Hall 4:00 p.m. CT-BTN02/28/10 at Northwestern Evanston, Ill. TBA Postseason Big Ten tournament Date Opponent Location Time Score03/04/10 First Round Indianapolis, Ind. TBA Awards and honors Preseason All-Big Ten Coaches Team JENNA SMITH, Sr., F, ILL Preseason All-Big Ten Media Team Jenna Smith, Sr., F, ILL
See also 2009–10 Big Ten women's basketball season 2009–10 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team
References
External links Official site