Consistency has been the name of the game at Illinois College, and under the direction of Head Coach Brenna Kelly, the Lady Blues have earned a place among the top women's basketball programs in the Midwest Conference.
Since 1990, the IC women have qualified eleven times for the league's post-season championship tournament. That run has produced one title (1992-93) and three runner-up finishes. An exciting blend of height, quickness and skill have enabled the Lady Blues to match up competitively against an impressive array of opponents. Kelly's teams have currently won 288 games.
Kelly's teams emphasize athleticism. Many student-athletes who wear the team's blue and white colors enjoyed considerable success at the high school level, and some of the most successful prep programs in downstate Illinois - including Nokomis, Williamsville, Carthage, Highland, Hillsboro and Lincoln - have sent their athletes to IC's hilltop campus. The team enjoys a great deal of camaraderie, and everyone enjoys the opportunity to contribute at either the varsity or junior varsity level. As an NCAA Division III institution, Illinois College places academic before athletics. In recent years, the College has been well-represented on the Academic All-Midwest Conference team, and former players have won statewide and national recognition for the ability to combine athletics with academics.
Illinois College's 23-game schedule includes 18 contests against fellow members of the Midwest Conference. The Lady Blues typically play in a major, early-season tournament and often match-up against some of the finest teams in the region. In recent years, Illinois College has faced regional powers Millikin, DePauw, Illinois Wesleyan, and Washington University.
Memorial Gymnasium used to be home for Illinois College basketball for nearly a half-century, but that changed in 2003 when the Lady Blues moved into a magnificent new arena known as Sherman Gymnasium, that features a performance venue specially designed for competitive play along with a comprehensive fitness center.