3 important takeaways from the Illinois basketball exhibition against UIS

It may have just been an exhibition game, but the women's Illinois basketball program was in full force on Friday night, defeating the UIS Prairie Stars 88-44.

This was a one-sided affair at the State Farm Center, as Illinois did not trail once against their sister school. They played a dominant brand of basketball in their lone exhibition match-up, scoring on 43 of their 77 possessions.

The Illini, who rank No. 23 in the AP Preseason Top 25 poll, were running on all cylinders.

Here are three important takeaways from the Illinois basketball exhibition against UIS

1. Gretchen Dolan is back, and she has not missed a step on offense

The Illinois faithful were excited to see Gretchen Dolan return to the State Farm Center after suffering a season-ending knee injury last season. It was her first game in Champaign since January 7, 2026.

Dolan looked fantastic against UIS on Friday, recording 14 points and four rebounds while shooting 40% from the field. She scored the first seven points of the game for the Illini, making all of her attempts, including one from three-point range.

The return of Dolan will provide a spark for Illinois that they didn't have last year, with teammates like sophomore Cearah Parchment calling her a walking bucket. There is concern about whether she can stay healthy all year, but with the versatility of Illinois' backcourt, she shouldn't have to play an extensive number of minutes every single game.

2. Illinois' free throw shooting was out of the ordinary, but not a major problem

If there was one thing that Illinois excelled at last season, it was their free-throw shooting, ranking No. 2 in the country at 81.48% from the charity stripe. It became their calling card as a program and a major reason for their success during the 2025-26 campaign.

On Friday night, Illinois' performance from the free-throw line seemed abnormal compared to last season, converting on 74.2% of their shots. Dolan and Aaliyah Guyton led the team in free-throw shooting against UIS, recording a combined 9-of-9 from the foul line.

This game can easily be considered a blip on the radar for Illinois, as it was their first game of the season and they were shaking off the rust from the offseason. Keep your eyes on how Shauna Green responds as the regular season looms.

3. Manuella Alves is the real deal, and Illinois should be glad to have her back

Illinois basketball was excited for Manuella Alves to make her debut after she missed the entire 2025-26 season with a torn ACL, and she did not disappoint. She recorded 11 points, four rebounds, and four steals in 23 minutes of play.

Alves made a great impression on both sides of the court, showing her ability to score from all three levels and her active hands on defense. She also showed her strength on the glass, converting an offensive rebound into three points.

Green has a very versatile lineup at her disposal, and the addition of Alves this season will only elevate it even more. The former four-star recruit will give Green a lot of depth in the frontcourt and will open up opportunities for others like Berry Wallace and Parchment.

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