Illinois Women’s Basketball Triumphs Over Washington
In a surprising turn of events, the Illinois women’s basketball team triumphed over the No. 25-ranked Washington Huskies with a score of 75-66, effectively halting Washington’s impressive five-game winning run. Cearah Parchment shone brightly for the Fighting Illini, racking up 23 points and securing 10 rebounds, while Berry Wallace closely followed with 22 points of her own.
Key Performances
Parchment’s performance included making 8 out of 16 attempts from the field and hitting three 3-pointers, alongside a perfect four-for-four at the free-throw line. This victory comes after Illinois had previously struggled against ranked teams, including losses to No. 24 Nebraska and No. 2 UCLA. The standout freshman forward has now achieved three double-doubles in just her last four games, marking a total of six for the season. Wallace complemented her efforts with notable shooting, converting on half of her attempts and attaining 7 rebounds.
Additionally, Maddie Webber contributed 13 points from the bench, and Destiny Jackson added a versatile stat line with 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists for Illinois, who improved their record to 16-6 overall and 6-5 in the Big Ten Conference.
Washington’s Struggles
On the other side of the court, Washington’s scoring was led by Sayvia Sellers and Avery Howell, who each netted 17 points. The Huskies had previously celebrated a strong victory against No. 16 Maryland, but they found themselves struggling at home this time, dropping to 12-2 on their home turf. Freshman Brynn McGaughy came off the bench to chip in 12 points with an efficient 6-for-8 shooting performance.
Game Highlights
The first quarter was characterized by a competitive back-and-forth that featured six lead changes, ending with the Huskies up 16-15 thanks to Elle Ladine’s basket. However, the tide turned in the second quarter when Illinois seized control, following a 3-pointer from Parchment that ignited a 7-0 run, allowing them to take a 24-19 lead. They maintained the advantage thereafter, concluding the first half with a 37-29 lead as Parchment recorded 13 points in the first half alone.
Illinois extended their lead to the largest margin of the game at 49-35 late in the third quarter. The Huskies mounted a push to narrow the gap to 51-40 going into the final quarter, but they could not close within six points in the last ten minutes of play.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Illinois is set to face Oregon in their next matchup on Wednesday, while Washington will host No. 11 Ohio State on Thursday.
With this victory, the Fighting Illini aim to build momentum in their upcoming challenges, as they continue to navigate the competitive landscape of women’s college basketball.
