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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois women’s basketball defeated No. 7/6 Maryland, 73-70, inside State Farm Center on Thursday evening, its 11th-straight win, tying the longest win streak in program history. The last time Illinois defeated a program ranked 7th or higher, was on Dec. 28, 2012, when it topped Georgia, 70-59. The victory marked Illinois’ highest ranked Big Ten win in program history, and gave the Illini their first 3-0 conference start since the 1999-00 season.Â
Three Illinois players scored in double figures, led by Berry Wallace, who notched 22 points and seven rebounds, her seventh outing with 20 or more points this season. Cearah Parchment added 17 points, eight rebounds, three steals and three blocks and Gretchen Dolan chipped in as well with 17 points. Parchment is just the second Illini to record three or more blocks in a game, after Lety Vasconcelos.Â
Led by Parchment’s four offensive rebounds, Illinois excelled on the offensive glass, pulling down 11 boards that resulted in 16 second chance points.
The Illinois defense was also a problem in Thursday’s game, forcing 18 Maryland turnovers while committing 12. Those takeaways turned into 12 points on the offensive end of the floor.
How It Happened
Illinois kept it close in the first quarter, fueled by 9 points and three rebounds from Wallace, but entered the second frame down 20-16.
Despite a pair of treys from Wallace and Destiny Jackson, the Illini could not make up ground on the Terrapins, facing a 39-34 halftime deficit.
Following halftime, Illinois kept the Terrapins from growing their lead before going on a 6-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Jasmine Brown-Hagger, to grab a 42-41 lead with 8:02 to go in the third. Maryland responded to seize a 54-52 lead entering the fourth quarter. Illinois played well near the basket, scoring 12 of its 18 points in the paint.
Maryland widened its lead in the fourth, constructing a 60-55 advantage before Illinois went on a 7-0 run to seize a 62-60 lead with 5:39 to go in the contest, including a pivotal three-pointer from Brown-Hagger to knot the game at 60 points. The Fighting Illini battled late, forcing four Maryland Turnovers and making four free throws to secure the victory, 73-70.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
POSTGAME NOTES
Player Notes:
Gretchen Dolan finished with 17 points, an assist, and a steal.
Destiny Jackson added 9 points, 3 assists, a rebound, and a steal against 0 turnovers.
Berry Wallace turned in a game-high 22 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and a block.
Her 12th outing with double-digit points this season and 24th of her career.
Went a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe, her ninth game without missing a free throw this season.
Eighth game of the campaign with 7+ rebounds.
Seventh 20-point game of the season and her career.
Third consecutive game with multiple three-pointers.
New career high for points in a Big Ten game.
Cearah Parchment posted 17 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks, 3 steals, and an assist.
First game of her career with multiple blocks, recording three. She joins Lety Vasconcelos as the second Illini to post three or more blocks in a game this season.
Eighth double-digit scoring outing of the campaign.
Has multiple steals in five consecutive games.
Grabbed multiple offensive rebounds for the seventh time this season.
New career high for points in a Big Ten game.
Team Notes:
Maryland won the opening tip and got on the board first with a jumper on its second possession.
Illinois forced 18 Maryland turnovers, while committing just 12.
Illinois forced 7 Maryland turnovers in the first quarter while committing 3.
Illinois used a 6-0 third quarter run to take a 42-41 lead – the Orange and Blue’s first lead of the game.
The Illini took the lead for good on a pair of Destiny Jackson free throws (4Q, 5:39), which followed Jasmine Brown-Hagger’s corner 3-pointer (4Q, 6:33).
Three Illini scored in double digits (Berry Wallace [22], Cearah Parchment [17], and Gretchen Dolan [17].
Maddie Webber was the first Illini off the bench, checking in with 5:38 in the first quarter.
Illinois held Maryland to 8.3% shooting from 3-point range, 1-for-12.
Illinois scored 16 second chance points off 11 offensive rebounds.
Misc. Notes:
Starters: Destiny Jackson, Jasmine Brown-Hagger, Gretchen Dolan, Berry Wallace, Cearah Parchment
Shauna Green is now:
48-11 in State Farm Center
33-24 in Big Ten play
Third-most Big Ten wins by a head coach in program history.
76-36 at Illinois
203-86 as a Division I head coach
Shauna Green is the third-winningest coach in Illinois Women’s Basketball history with 76 wins across four seasons.
210 wins – Theresa Grentz (1995-2007, 12 seasons)
83 wins – Laura Golden (1984-90, 6 seasons)
76 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. Maryland: 2-17
Shauna Green’s coaching record vs. Maryland: 2-5
Illinois has won the last two meetings vs. Maryland
Thursday’s win marked the first ever win over Maryland in Champaign.
The win over No. 7 Maryland was Illinois’ first win over a top-10 team since 11/27/2014 vs. No. 9 Kentucky.
Illinois’ last win over a #7-ranked team or better was Dec. 28, 2012 vs. No. 6 Georgia (Champaign, Ill.), W, 70-59
Illinois’ highest-ranked Big Ten win in program history
With its 13-1 start to the 2025-26 campaign, Illinois is off to the best 14-game start in program history.
Illinois is off to a 3-0 start in Big Ten play for the first time since the 1999-00 season.
Illinois extended its winning streak to a season-high 11 games, its longest such streak since racking up 11 straight wins from March 21, 2024 – Nov. 26, 2024.
The 11-game streak matches the longest winning streak in program history.
The 2025-26 streak is the longest winning streak to take place all in the same season.
Illinois is now 11-0 when wearing white uniforms this season and are now 48-12 when doing so under Green.
The Illini are 8-0 in day games (before 5 p.m.) this season and 38-22 under Green.
Illinois is 1-0 in games played on Thursdays this season and 19-8 under Green.
Illinois is 1-0 in the month of January this season and 15-9 under Green when playing in January.
Illinois is now 10-0 in home games this season and 48-11 under Shauna Green.
Illinois is 1-0 during the 2026 calendar year.
Illinois Victories over AP Top-10 Opponents:
Jan. 1, 2026 vs. No. 7 Maryland, W 73-70 (H)
Nov. 27, 2014 at No. 9 Kentucky, W 77-71 (N)
Dec. 28, 2012 vs. No. 6 Georgia, W 70-59 (H)
Feb. 9, 2012, vs. No. 10 Ohio State, W 66-65 (H)
Jan. 26, 2003 vs. No. 10 Minnesota, W 94-80 (H)
Jan. 7, 2001 vs. No. 10 Penn State, W 75-71 (H)
Nov. 27, 1999 vs. No. 6 Notre Dame, W 77-67 (H)
Jan. 13, 1982 vs. No. 3 Long Beach State, W 97-91 (3OT) (H)
Illinois Victories Over Ranked Opponents Under Coach Green:
Jan. 1, 2023 vs. No. 12 Iowa, W 90-86
Feb. 19, 2024 vs. No. 14 Indiana, W 86-66
Nov. 7, 2024, vs. No. 19 Florida State, W 83-74
Jan. 9, 2025, vs. No. 23 Iowa, W 62-57
Feb. 2, 2025, at No. 14 Maryland, W 66-65
March 22, 2025, vs. No. 23 Creighton, W 66-57 (Austin, Texas)
Jan. 1, 2026 vs. No. 7 Maryland, W 73-70
Score after 1st Quarter: 16-20Score at Halftime: 34-39 (18-19 2Q)Score after 3rd Quarter: 52-54 (18-15 3Q)Score after 4th Quarter: 73-70 (21-16 4Q)
