[ad_1]
rewrite this content and keep HTML tags
Story Links
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Five Fighting Illini scored in double digits and Illinois knocked off the Jackson State Lady Tigers 86-43 at home Friday. The 11-1 start to the 2025-26 campaign is Illinois’ best in over 40 years, since also going 11-1 to open the 1981-82 season. The Illini also remain a perfect 9-0 inside State Farm Center this season.
The Fighting Illini (11-1) were led offensively by Aaliyah Guyton, who had 13 points off the bench in her first game back on the floor since Dec. 2. Maddie Webber tacked on 12 points and four assists off of the bench and Berry Wallace chipped in as well with 12 points and seven rebounds. Webber has knocked down multiple 3-pointers in eight of the last nine games.
Illinois out-rebounded Jackson State 41-27 in Friday’s game, led by seven boards apiece from Wallace and Cearah Parchment, and forced 14 Jackson State turnovers. The Fighting Illini turned those takeaways into 24 points on the other end of the floor. Parchment’s three steals led the way for Illinois.
How It Happened
Illinois won the opening tip and began the scoring with a 14-0 run, holding the Lady Tigers scoreless for the first 5:45 of the game. Late baskets from Lety Vasconcelos and Parchment extended the lead for the Fighting Illini, who entered the quarter break with a 25-5 advantage.
Illinois built that first quarter lead to 35-8 before going on a 12-0 run starting at the 5:11 mark in the second period to increase its lead to 47-8. Noelle-Pierre Tcheuhchoua added three points for Jackson State, but the Fighting Illini still enjoyed a 47-10 advantage heading into halftime. Ten first half points from the Lady Tigers represents the lowest total by any Illinois opponent in a single half this season.
Illinois preserved its halftime lead before going on a brief 5-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Gretchen Dolan, to expand its advantage further to 60-22 with 2:35 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Lady Tigers had cut into that lead with a trio of treys from Rhema Pegues, but the Fighting Illini entered the fourth quarter with a 64-30 edge. Illinois played well near the basket, scoring 12 of its 17 points in the paint.
A late 9-0 run, finished off by a Webber three, grew the margin to 77-34 with 5:51 to go in the contest. The Fighting Illini retained their lead for the rest of the contest, earning the 86-43 victory over the Lady Tigers.
Illinois travels to West Lafayette, Indiana, for its second Big Ten outing against Purdue on Sunday, Dec. 28. Tip off is set for 11 a.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
POSTGAME NOTES
Player Notes:
Gretchen Dolan finished with 12 points, 3 rebounds, an assist, and a block.
Posted her 10th double-digit scoring outing of the campaign and the 17th such game of her career.
Maddie Webber added 12 points, 4 assists, and 2 rebounds.
First Illini off the bench, checking in at 6:33 in the first quarter.
Scored in double digits for the eighth time this season and for the seventh time in the last eight games.
Knocked down multiple 3-pointers for the sixth time this season.
Has made at least one 3-pointer in eight of the last nine games.
Destiny Jackson recorded 9 points, 7 assists, 2 steals, and a rebound.
3-for-3 from the line, her sixth perfect outing from the charity stripe this season.
Berry Wallace turned in 12 points, 7 rebounds, and an assist.
Her 10th outing with double-digit points this season.
Seventh game of the campaign with 7+ rebounds.
Cearah Parchment posted 11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, and a block.
Sixth double-digit scoring outing of the campaign.
Has multiple steals in three consecutive games.
Grabbed multiple offensive rebounds for the sixth time this season.
Aaliyah Guyton added 13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and a steal.
Saw her first action since December 2 vs. Bellarmine.
Season-highs in points (13) and made free throws (5).
Guyton led the Illini in points scored for the first time this season.
Her fourth game reaching double-digit points this year.
Team Notes:
The Illini won the opening tip and got on the board first with a layup from Cearah Parchment on their first possession.
Illinois opened the game on a 14-0 run, holding Jackson State scoreless for the first 5:45 of the contest.
The Illini opened the game making their first 4 field goal attempts.
Five Illini scored in double digits (Berry Wallace [12], Gretchen Dolan [12], Aaliyah Guyton [13], Cearah Parchment [11], Maddie Webber [12].
Illinois did not allow any Jackson State players to score in double figures.
Illinois is now 65-11 under Shauna Green when holding opponents to 70 points or less.
The Illini have allowed fewer than 70 points in each of the first 12 games this season.
The Illini forced 14 turnovers while scoring 24 points off those takeaways.
Illinois won the battle of the paint, 58-18.
The Illinois bench outscored Jackson State, 35-14.
Illinois has gotten 30+ points off the bench three times this season.
All 12 available Fighting Illini saw playing time in the win.
Misc. Notes:
Starters: Destiny Jackson, Jasmine Brown-Hagger, Gretchen Dolan, Berry Wallace, Cearah Parchment
This lineup is now 11-1 this season
Shauna Green is now:
47-11 in State Farm Center
74-36 at Illinois
201-86 as a Division I head coach
Shauna Green is now the third-winningest coach in Illinois Women’s Basketball history with 74 wins across four seasons.
210 wins – Theresa Grentz (1995-2007, 12 seasons)
83 wins – Laura Golden (1984-90, 6 seasons)
74 wins – Shauna Green (2022-present, 4 seasons)
73 wins – Jane Schroeder (1979-84, 5 seasons)
69 wins – Jolette Law (2007-12, 5 seasons)
Illinois vs. Jackson State: 1-0
With its 11-1 start to the 2025-26 campaign, Illinois is off to its best start in over 40 years and has now tied its best start in program history (1981-82).
Illinois extended its winning streak to a season-high nine games, its longest such streak since racking up 11 straight wins from March 21, 2024 – Nov. 26, 2024.
Illinois is now 9-0 when wearing white uniforms this season and are now 46-12 when doing so under Green.
The Illini are 5-1 in night games (after 5 p.m.) this season and 38-14 under Green.
Illinois is 1-1 in games played on Fridays this season and 4-2 under Green.
Illinois is 5-0 in the month of December this season and 17-7 under Green when playing in December.
Illinois is now 9-0 in home games this season and 47-11 under Shauna Green.
Illinois is 22-8 during the 2025 calendar year.
Score after 1st Quarter: 25-5
Third quarter this season the Illini have held an opponent to five or fewer points.
Score at Halftime: 47-10 (22-5)
The Illini held Jackson State to the lowest point total in any half for an opponent this season.
Score after 3rd Quarter: 64-30 (17-20)Score after 4th Quarter: 86-43 (22-13)
[ad_2]
Source link
