The youth movement of the women's Illinois basketball team was on full display Saturday night, and it led to a monumental 66-57 victory over the No. 10 Colorado Buffaloes.
It was an exciting debut for the likes of freshmen Cearah Parchment and Destiny Jackson, as the youngest team in the field of 68 took on a much more experienced Colorado squad. It was a literal battle of the ages in this first round bout, but the Illini were able to hold on and win their second tournament game in the last four years.
This team has played a special brand of basketball all season long with a young core that has a bright future ahead of them. But before we look too far ahead, what are some key observations that we should be dissecting as we get ready for No. 2 Vanderbilt on Monday?
1. Illinois' youth did not back down under the brightest lights
The Illini didn't rebuild this offseason; they retooled. After losing roughly 80% of their scoring from the previous season, Shauna Green brought in players like Parchment and Jackson to help round out the roster.
They needed all of the help in the world to get back to the Big Dance, and these two players delivered in their very first NCAA tournament game with the program. It was a spectacular debut for Parchment and Jackson, as the dynamic duo combined for 37 points and 16 rebounds on 52% shooting from the field.
Parchment and Jackson have developed into superstar-caliber players in just their first year with the Illinois basketball program, and they just continue to get better under the bright lights of March. They were obviously not phased at all by the spot they were in, and with superstar Berry Wallace adding in her contributions offensively, this team certainly has what it takes to make an interesting run.
2. The turnover battle proved to be an Achilles heel for the Buffaloes
Illinois is one of the best teams in the country when it comes to taking care of the basketball, ranking No. 13, averaging 12.3 turnovers per game. They are a methodical group who loves to work through their offense and create the most efficient shots possible every time down the floor.
Colorado, on the other hand, hasn't been as lucky in the turnover department this season. They have been a little more loose with the basketball as a unit, ranking a dismal No. 202 in the country, averaging 16.5 turnovers per contest. This tendency ended up rearing its ugly head in Nashville, Tennessee, on Saturday night for the Buffaloes, as they gave up the ball a total of 14 times to the Illini.
If opposing teams want to have a chance against Illinois, then they need to be wary of the turnover margin. They can't give a star-studded roster more chances than they need, especially when they have multiple prolific scorers on the floor at every moment. If they do, they will take advantage of these miscues, as the Illini did to the tune of 14 points off turnovers.
3. Jasmine Brown-Hagger showed her warrior spirit early in the second half
The highlight of the Illinois basketball team has been their youth, led by the aforementioned Parchment and Jackson, as well as Wallace. But one player who showed immense toughness Saturday night was junior guard Jasmine Brown-Hagger.
Brown-Hagger, who finished the game with zero points and two assists, was a pivotal part of Illinois' defensive efforts with a game-high four steals. But midway through the third quarter, she would sustain a tough ankle injury that would have any normal person sidelined for a substantial amount of time.
But for Brown-Hagger, she was able to come back in after only 13 minutes of real time to help her squad secure a much-needed win against Colorado. She played through the pain when her team needed her the most and showed the veteran leadership that Green loves to see.
Jasmine Brown-Hagger showing signs of sore ankle in locker room after game. Shauna Green said afterward junior guard's toughness is what she has desired to build program on. pic.twitter.com/Wr8leQGIi5
— Joe Vozzelli Jr. (@JoeVozzelli) March 22, 2026
The warrior mentality runs rampant in March, and Brown-Hagger was the perfect example of it on Saturday night. She will certainly be called upon to continue her intense style of play in the second round when Illinois takes on No. 2 Vanderbilt and leading scorer Mikayla Blakes.