CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Tale of two halves.
The Illini returned to State Farm Center to host the SEMO Redhawks to begin their regular season campaign on Monday, and did so by taking the right step forward and defeating them 91-67.
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Although it was a blowout, the score doesn’t always tell the whole story.
It was far from an ideal start to the game for the Orange and Blue. Apart from junior guard Gretchen Dolan and freshman forward Cearah Parchment, the Illini offense was pretty stagnant. Both pieces combined to score for the first 12 points for the Illini.
Turnovers were the core of this. Very uncharacteristically, the offense shot itself in the foot, giving the ball away repeatedly, and they never found their rhythm. Add on top of that the 58 total personal fouls, and you have a choppy game. Even with all of this, the Illini went into the half up 43-31.
Once the second half started, it was all Illini.
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The ball started flowing much better, which led to better looks. Spearheading the scoring was sophomore forward Berry Wallace, who, with her first career double-double, had herself a career night finishing with 27 points and 11 rebounds. Once she settled into things, the game came easy to her.
“I think my teammates really helped,” Wallace said. “I think, you know, they were able to get a lot of assists. I think I was able to get some really good looks based off my passes from teammates, which I think was really helpful to get some easy buckets going.”
It wasn’t just Wallace that filled up the statsheet, though. The duo of Dolan and junior transfer Maddie Webber played a pivotal role by putting up 16 points each that helped the Illini pull away. Dolan, from the very beginning, facilitated the offense and had everything run through her.
Webber, on the other hand, provided that much-needed spark off the bench, which she hopes to make a reocurring theme this season.
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“Yeah, I mean, coming off the bench, I just want to be a spark for the team,” Webber said. “Like, we talk about that all the time, and like, regardless, I’m going to do whatever I have to do. If I’m starting I’m gonna play the same way as if I’m like, the last person coming off the bench, like, all I have to do is put an effort to do what I have to do and just make an impact in away.”
That’s exactly the kind of pieces the Illini need when games get choppy and slows the game down. Having that option like Webber could become fundmanetal down the stretch of the season, and could have shades of Adalia McKenzie.
And that would be pretty ideal for head coach Shauna Green and the staff.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Dolan showcases her vision with a cheeky dime to set up Parchment for the easy score.
Webber takes it coast to coast with a little razzle-dazzle to get past the ongoing traffic.
Wallace sets the tone for the half right out of the tunnel.
Have yourself a night, Berry Wallace!
STAT STUFFERS
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Illinois shot 53% from the field
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Illinois shot 36% from behind the arc
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Illinois won the rebound battle, 39-31
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UP NEXT
The Illini will look to keep the perfect start to their season when they turn to in-state rivals, the Illinois State Redbirds, as they come to town at State Farm Center on Sunday.
Tip-off is scheduled for 12 p.m. and will be shown on B1G+.
