CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Fighting Illini left no room for Southern to catch up Saturday.
After a shaky first half in its first game, No. 23 Illinois dominated Southern from start to finish in a 99-28 victory on Saturday at State Farm Center. The victory came on the 30th anniversary celebration of the 1996-97 Illini’s first Big Ten championship.
Head coach Shauna Green said the team had its best practice of the season Friday following its season-opening performance, which translated onto the court throughout
their second game.
Cearah Parchment kicked the game off with a three, followed shortly by a layup. The momentum kept going from there as the team racked up seven three-pointers.
The Illini implemented a drive-and-kick offense that drew the defense and left uncontested shots outside the arc. Everyone was able to touch the ball, and it kept the offense moving.
“There wasn’t anyone going out there and trying to get theirs,” said guard Gretchen Dolan. “We’re all super unselfish and finding each other the ball.”
Dolan had back-to-back threes in the first period, ending the afternoon with 12 points.
Jasmine Brown-Hagger briefly left the court after taking a hit, but was able to come back uninjured before the quarter ended. She was able to add 11 total points to the scoreboard and scored a layup off her own offensive rebound.
The team had 17 offensive rebounds, which kept the ball away from the Southern University Jaguars.
“I think it’s a huge momentum changer,” Brown-Hagger said. “Rebounding all of those shots and putting them up, or getting another possession because the ball is in our hands for more of the quarters.”
The defense kept the Jaguars out of the paint, leaving them in a panic whenever they picked up the ball. The Illini forced two shot clock violations and only let up one three-pointer.
By the end of the first quarter, the Illini were up 30-3.
However, Illinois lost some composure entering the second quarter, committing three fouls and turning the ball over five times.
It might not have hurt the team, but mistakes like that in the future could cost them a game.
Illinois had an extra surge of adrenaline to finish up the second half, with forward Berry Wallace coming into the fourth quarter, making four free throws and scoring one more in the paint.
As the clock ran down, the Fighting Illini held the ball to end the afternoon short of 100 points.
While the Illini were met with success outside the arc, they struggled a bit at the free-throw line. The team went 18 for 26, which could hurt them in clutch games.
“We had multiple people miss a couple, and that traditionally has not been us,” Green said. “I’m not going to make it a bigger deal than what it is, and now they get in their head.”
Looking to the future, Green said she hopes all of the players can get to the level of giving their all on the court until they’re exhausted. She wants to continue to have a deep roster where rotations keep the momentum going.
“We got to get to where we are emptying the tank when you’re out there, playing as hard as you can on both ends,” Green said. “And then the next group comes in, and that next wave can come in.”
In case you missed it
Stat stuffers
- The Illini had 25 second-chance shots.
- Parchment led the team with 18 points.
- Manuella Alves amassed 10 rebounds, 7 of which were offensive.
- Destiny Jackson had 7 of Illinois’ 19 total assists.
Up next
Illinois will play Southeast Missouri State at State Farm Center next Sunday at 2 p.m.
The game will be streaming on B1G+.
