UNIVERSITY PARK, Penn. — The Illini needed a get-right game desperately, and they got just that Sunday afternoon.
After dropping back-to-back games to two ranked programs, Illinois needed a win against a much inferior Penn State team. However, star sophomore Berry Wallace wasn’t going to let the orange and blue leave the Keystone State without a win.
The Illini took down the Nittany Lions 92-76 behind a stellar 28 points from Wallace and some massive firepower from the bench.
Wallace got it started
early for Illinois (14-3), connecting on her first two shots. She would go on to play almost perfectly during the first quarter, hitting five of six shots, and finishing with 12 points.
Going into the halftime break, the Illini were up 11, a good lead, but within striking distance for the Nittany Lions.
But for Penn State (7-10), momentum was definitely not on its side. The orange and blue finished the half on an 18-3 run.
The Illini would then channel that momentum into the second half, with Maddie Webber exploding for 18 points after the break.
Just when the Nittany Lions had crawled back within four points of the Illini midway through the third quarter, Webber buried arguably the biggest shot of the day, a three-pointer to put the team up seven.
That four-point deficit would end up being the closest Penn State would make the game all half, with the Illini going on cruise control in the fourth quarter.
For Shauna Green, you couldn’t have asked for a better tune-up game ahead of her team’s matchup with No. 9 Michigan on Thursday.
For Coach Green, too, this game only confirmed what she had already been thinking: Berry Wallace is the X-factor of this team. However, it also raises a big question for her: Do you slide Maddie Webber into a starting role and have Jasmine Brown-Hagger come off the bench?
Webber has already been receiving more minutes than Brown-Hagger, but only time will tell what happens the rest of the season.
Nonetheless, Sunday was a massive win for the Illini, and they will be riding this momentum into Ann Arbor on Thursday.
Moments that Mattered
Webber is playing her best basketball right now.
Berry Wallace is going to be the player who takes this team to new heights.
Destiny Jackson with a great pass to Gretchen Dolan. If Jackson can keep those turnovers down, she could very well turn into the best facilitator in the Big Ten.
Stat Stuffers
- Berry Wallace (ILL)- 28 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists
- Maddie Webber (ILL)- 26 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
- Gracie Merkle (PSU)- 24 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists
- Destiny Jackson (ILL)- 15 points, 9 assists, 6 turnovers
What’s Next?
Well, I’ll tell you what should be next. The Illini need to be ranked.
They’ve proven time and time again that they can hang with anyone, and not only that, but they are absolutely electric to watch.
Regardless of ranking, the Illini have a big one on Thursday.
Illinois will travel up to face the No. 9 Michigan Wolverines, who will be yet another test for Coach Green’s young squad.
