CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Berry Wallace scored 22 points to help lead the Illinois women's basketball team over the Murray State Racers 84-64 at home Tuesday in front of a Field Trip Day crowd of 14,361.
The Fighting Illini (3-1) had four players score in double figures, led by Wallace, who had 22 points and eight rebounds. Destiny Jackson tacked on 18 points and five assists, Aaliyah Guyton chipped in as well with 12 points from the bench, and Cearah Parchment registered her first career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Illinois grabbed 41 rebounds in Tuesday's game compared to Murray State's 33, led by Parchment's 11.
The Illinois defense was a problem in Tuesday's game, forcing 17 Murray State turnovers while committing 15. Those takeaways turned into 15 points on the offensive end of the floor. Parchment's two steals led the way individually for the Fighting Illini.
How It Happened
After jumping out to a 14-13 advantage, Illinois went on an 11-0 run with 3:16 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Guyton, to increase its lead to 25-13. The Fighting Illini then lost some of that lead, but still entered the quarter break with a 25-16 advantage. Illinois did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring 16 of its 25 points close to the basket.
Illinois kept its first quarter lead intact before going on an 8-0 run starting at the 8:54 mark in the second period to increase its lead to 35-19. The Fighting Illini proceeded to tack on one point to that lead and enjoyed a 47-30 advantage heading into halftime. Illinois saw non-starters score seven of its 22 total points off the bench in the quarter.
Illinois continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on a 5-0 run, punctuated by a three from Jackson, to expand its lead further to 52-33 with 6:32 to go in the third. Before the third period was over, the Fighting Illini added two points to that lead and entered the fourth quarter with a 67-46 edge.
The Illini then went on a 6-0 run to grow the lead to 82-61 with 2:21 to go in the contest. The Racers narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but Illinois still cruised the rest of the way for the 84-64 win. The Illini got a boost from its bench in the period, with non-starters scoring eight of its 17 total points.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
HIGHLIGHTS
POSTGAME NOTES
Player Notes:
- Berry Wallace led the Illini with 22 points and eight rebounds.
- Scored nine points and grabbed three rebounds in the first quarter alone.
- Led Illinois in scoring with 20+ points for a fourth-consecutive game.
- Shot a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line.
- Destiny Jackson scored a career-high 18 points and recorded four rebounds and five assists.
- Broke her career-high before halftime, scoring 10 points on 4-5 shooting in the first half alone.
- Sank her third 3-pointer of the game to close the third quarter, giving the Illini a 67-46 lead.
- Cearah Parchment recorded her first career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
- Broke her previous career-high in rebounds, which was nine versus Illinois State.
- Gretchen Dolan recorded nine points, four rebounds, and four assists.
- Aaliyah Guyton scored a new season high of 12 points on 4-5 shooting.
- Scored 10+ points for the first time of the season.
- Played for over 20 minutes for the first time of the year.
- Maddie Webber contributed seven points on 3-8 shooting.
- Webber was the first Illini off the bench checking in with 5:56 remaining in the first quarter.
- Recorded two blocks in 21 minutes.
- Naomi Benson made her Illini debut, checking in with two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
- Mia Zenere made her first appearance of the season with one minute remaining in the fourth quarter.
Team Notes:
- Murray State won the opening tip and scored first off a jump shot on their second possession.
- Cearah Parchment opened up scoring for the Illini with a layup at the eight-and-a-half minute mark.
- The Illini went on a 15-2 run over a five-minute span to close out the first quarter leading the Racers 25-16.
- Illinois dominated down low, outscoring Murray State, 38-22, in the paint.
- After Murray State responded to Illinois' run by hitting back-to-back threes, the Illini went on an 8-0 stretch in three minutes in the second quarter. They then closed the quarter on a 12-4 run.
- Illinois shot 20-22 (90.0%) from the free throw line compared to Murray State's 12-21 (57.1%).
- All 13 available Illini saw the floor versus Murray State, the most so far this season.
- The Illinois bench outscored Murray State's 23-12.
- Four Illini scored in double digits (Berry Wallace [22], Destiny Jackson [18], Aaliyah Guyton [12], Cearah Parchment [10]).
Misc. Notes:
- Starters: Destiny Jackson, Jasmine Brown-Hagger, Gretchen Dolan, Berry Wallace, Cearah Parchment
- This lineup is now 3-1 this season
- Shauna Green is now:
- 66-36 at Illinois
- 41-11 in State Farm Center
- 30-24 in Big Ten play
- 193-87 as a Division I head coach
- 222-111 overall
- Illinois vs. Murray State: 3-0
- Field Trip Day attendance numbers under Shauna Green
- 2025, vs. Murray State: 14,361
- 2024, vs. Le Moyne: 13,486
- 2023, vs. St. Peters: 11,563
- 2022, vs. McNeese State: 8,141
- Illinois moves to 8-1 when hosting Field Trip Day games.
- The 2025-26 game marks the fourth consecutive season of setting a new attendance record for the event.
- Tuesday's attendance of 14,361 is the third-largest crowd in program history and the largest of the Shauna Green Era.
- Largest women's basketball crowd in State Farm Center since 2/21/1999
- Largest non-conference attendance in program history
- Illinois is now 3-0 when wearing white uniforms this season and are now 40-12 when doing so under Green.
- The Illini are 2-0 in day games (before 5 p.m.) this season.
- Illinois is 2-0 in games played on Tuesdays this season.
- Illinois is 14-8 during the 2025 calendar year.
- Illinois is 3-0 in home games this season.
Score after 1st Quarter: 25-16
Score at Halftime: 47-30 (22-14 2nd Q)
Score after 3rd Quarter: 67-46 (20-16 3rd Q)
Score after 4th Quarter: 84-64 (17-18 4th Q)
