CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) — Berry Wallace scored 21 points and Cearah Parchment added 20 to lead the Illinois Fighting Illini women’s basketball to a 76-56 victory over Rutgers Scarlet Knights women’s basketball on Tuesday night at the State Farm Center.
Illinois (18-8, 8-7 Big Ten) placed two players in double figures, with Wallace adding nine rebounds and Parchment recording a double-double with 20 points and 10 boards. Destiny Jackson contributed eight assists and two steals, while Lety Vasconcelos chipped in a career-high nine points.
The Illini shared the ball effectively, dishing out 24 assists on the night while committing just 12 turnovers. Illinois also controlled the paint, outscoring Rutgers 40-24 inside.
After trailing early in the first quarter, Illinois used a 12-0 run in the second period to take control and carried a 35-21 lead into halftime. The Illini extended their advantage with a 10-0 run in the third quarter, pushing the margin to 45-23 and effectively putting the game away.
Defensively, Illinois held Rutgers to 38.9% shooting from the field and just 26.7% from three-point range. The Scarlet Knights managed only six offensive rebounds and three second-chance points.
The win marked Illinois’ 13th home victory of the season. Under head coach Shauna Green, the Illini improved to 51-14 at home and remained undefeated against Rutgers during her tenure.
Illinois closes out the regular season with one remaining home game at State Farm Center.