CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Even in a loss, Illinois’ freshmen are making headlines.
Illinois fell 80-67 to No. 2 UCLA on Wednesday night at State Farm Center, but freshman Cearah Parchment continued her recent strong play with another standout performance.
Parchment led all scorers with 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds, building on her 25-point, 11-rebound outing against Nebraska in Illinois’ previous game. With UCLA leaning on Lauren Betts inside, Parchment provided Illinois with a consistent
scoring presence, attacking the lane and knocking down timely jumpers to keep the Illini within striking distance.
She got Illinois on the board early and remained aggressive throughout the night. Parchment took control in the third quarter, scoring off an offensive rebound, finishing through contact, and drilling a corner three that brought the deficit back to single digits. Each time UCLA made a run, it was met with an Illini response, giving the home crowd energy during key moments.
Despite UCLA stretching the lead late, Parchment stayed composed against the Bruins’ size and physicality. She drilled a fadeaway jumper and a fast break finish in the fourth quarter before fouling out, drawing a standing ovation from the State Farm Center crowd. While the loss drops Illinois to 15-6, Parchment’s back-to-back performances against Nebraska and UCLA signal her growing role as a reliable offensive option as conference play continues.
