LINCOLN, Neb. – Another tough-ranked away matchup proves too much for Illinois.
Illinois fell 81–75 to No. 24 Nebraska on Saturday afternoon in Lincoln, but the final score hardly told the full story of
a game defined by resilience, physicality and a second-half surge that forced the Cornhuskers to earn every possession down the stretch.
What ultimately decided the game was Illinois’ inability to dig out of a deep first-half hole. Turnovers and stagnant offense allowed Nebraska to seize control early, while the Cornhuskers’ interior defense clogged the paint and limited clean looks. By halftime, Illinois (15-5, 5-4 Big Ten) trailed by 18, a margin that loomed large even as the Illini later found their footing. Still, Illinois never folded.
Berry Wallace was the steady presence throughout, shouldering the offensive load and keeping Illinois within reach. Wallace attacked mismatches, drew fouls and mixed in jumpers, refusing to let the game slip away. Her physicality set the tone and gave the Illini a foundation to build on when momentum finally shifted.
That shift came behind Cearah Parchment. The freshman delivered the most complete performance of her young career, scoring inside, stepping confidently into perimeter shots and battling on the glass. Parchment’s energy fueled Illinois’ comeback, as the Illini began to find production beyond Wallace and forced Nebraska into uncomfortable possessions.
As Illinois’ offense came alive, the defense followed. The Illini pressured the ball, forced critical violations and turned defense into chances at the free-throw line. Multiple late runs cut the deficit to single digits and briefly put Nebraska on its heels, turning what once looked like a runaway into a tense finish.
Nebraska (15-5, 4-5 Big Ten) had answers every time. Timely baskets, second-chance points and poise at the line allowed the Cornhuskers to steady themselves whenever Illinois threatened. Each Illini push was met with a response, and the early deficit ultimately proved too much to overcome.
Illinois won the second half and showed the toughness required to compete on the road in the Big Ten. While the result didn’t go their way, the performance offered a clear reminder of this group’s ceiling when execution matches effort.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Berry Wallace got off to a dominant start, driving to the hoop for 10 early points.
Coming out of halftime, Cearah Parchment relieves all the offensive duties from Wallace by knocking down 3’s.
Destiny Jackson drives and gets fouled to convert an and-1 as Illinois attempts to make a late run.
STAT STUFFERS
- Illinois had 40 points in the paint.
- Cearah Parchment had 6 offensive rebounds.
- The Illini outrebounded the Cornhuskers by 7, 34-27.
UP NEXT
Illinois will be a heavy underdog as they try to bounce back, where they will host the No. 3 UCLA Bruins at State Farm Center.
Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 28, and will air on B1G+.
