The women's Illinois basketball team has now lost two games in a row for the first time this season, falling to the visiting Ohio State Buckeyes by a score of 78-69.
It was a closely contested game for the Illini faithful, with both teams keeping it within five points for a majority of the contest. But it was right around the 2:07 mark of the third quarter where the Buckeyes took complete control of the game and never looked back.
Ohio State and Jaloni Cambridge showed the world why they are the No. 19 team in the entire country. It was a tough pill to swallow for Illinois fans, even with the way Shauna Green's crew fought until the bitter end. But even in the face of defeat, what are some key takeaways that we can examine as we make our way through the rest of the season?
1. Jolani Cambridge was allowed to do whatever she wanted to do at the State Farm Center
The Illini are known for an energetic and fast-paced style of play, especially when they're on the defensive side of the ball. They are a stifling bunch of individuals on the court, allowing only 59.2 points per game going into last night's matchup.
The problem that the Illini faced, however, is that they played an elite guard in Cambridge, who was just having the night of her life. She was on fire from the opening tip to the final buzzer, scoring over half of Ohio State's points (41) while shooting an astounding 60% from the field.
Normally, when something like this happens, I would have some kind of breakdown on how Illinois could have stopped it. But sometimes, the only thing that you can really say is "when it's your night, it's your night." The Illini did their best to try to stop Cambridge, but she just could not do wrong at the State Farm Center.
2. Cearah Parchment had a great game against a very intimidating opponent
Cearah Parchment continues to be a special player for the Illinois basketball program. After winning her second Freshman of the Week award the other day, the freshman had to face off against a defensive behemoth in the 6-foot-6 Elsa Lemmilä.
It was going to be one of her hardest tests to date, but the first year forward stepped up to the plate and really excelled for the navy and orange. In 31 minutes of play, Parchment was able to lead her team with 20 points and eight rebounds on 57% shooting from the field.
Parchment has been a breath of fresh air for this program, especially in the face of defeat. The Illini may not have won the game, but they still continue to excel when it comes to the development of their young talent.
3. The Illini just couldn't get the three-point shot to fall in Champaign
Illinois isn't the best three-point shooting team in the country, I get that. Prior to this game, they walked into the State Farm Center as the No. 71 team in the country, shooting 34.2% from long range.
It's not a pivotal part of their repertoire, but they can still get the job done when need be. But on Wednesday night, the three-ball just wasn't there for Illinois at any point in the game. They were only able to muster two three-pointers out of 13 attempts, which equates to a miserable 13% from beyond the arc.
That is something that can't happen. This team has plenty of shooters who can sink the long ball at a moment's notice. But last night, the Illini unfortunately went cold against a team that knows how to make them pay. If they want to succeed down the stretch, they need to continue to remain consistent from that part of the floor.