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Four in double figures lift Illini women past Purdue

Four in double figures lift Illini women past Purdue

Purdue made late pushes, but Illinois never relinquished control,. Photo: Saga Communications


WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (Chambana Today) — Illinois women’s basketball continued its strong start to conference play Sunday, riding balanced scoring and defensive pressure to an 83–73 win over Purdue at Mackey Arena.

Four Illini reached double figures as Illinois earned its 10th straight victory and improved to 12–1 overall and 2–0 in Big Ten action. The win marked the program’s first road victory at Purdue since 2015 and its first 2–0 conference start since the 2007–08 season.

Berry Wallace led the way with a game-high 21 points and seven rebounds, delivering key baskets throughout the second half. Gretchen Dolan followed with 19 points, including 15 after halftime, while adding three assists and two steals. Cearah Parchment posted a well-rounded performance with 14 points, eight rebounds, and three steals, and Maddie Webber chipped in 12 points off the bench.

Illinois used its defense to control the game, forcing 16 Purdue turnovers that turned into 23 points. The Illini also won the rebounding battle, 35–26, and capitalized on second-chance opportunities, scoring 12 points off 10 offensive rebounds.

After building a 28–18 lead at the end of the first quarter, Illinois saw Purdue narrow the margin before halftime, entering the break up just 40–38. The Illini responded with their strongest stretch of the game in the third quarter, outscoring the Boilermakers 27–15. Wallace capped an 8–0 run with a buzzer-beating three-pointer to give Illinois a 67–53 advantage heading into the final period.

Purdue made late pushes, but Illinois never relinquished control, sealing the victory at the free-throw line and on the defensive end.

Head coach Shauna Green earned her 75th win at Illinois with the victory, moving her into third place on the program’s all-time wins list. The Illini also extended their winning streak to 10 games, the second-longest in program history.

Illinois will look to keep its momentum rolling as Big Ten play continues later this week.

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