The women's Illinois basketball team knocked off the Washington Huskies this past Sunday and is looking to continue their West Coast streak on Wednesday night against the Oregon Ducks.
The Illini are looking to build on their success in Seattle as they travel to Eugene, Oregon, to take on sophomore guard Katie Fiso and the Ducks. This comes after a Sunday night game where four Illini scored in double-figures, which included a stellar 23-point, 10-rebound performance by freshman forward Cearah Parchment.
Illinois will be looking to slow down a strong Oregon squad that's currently on a three-game winning streak. But what are some questions that we should be asking ourselves as we inch closer to their 8:00 PM CST tip-off?
1. Will Cearah Parchment continue her dominance at Matthew Knight Arena?
Shauna Green and the rest of the Illini hit the jackpot when they recruited Parchment to Illinois. The four-star recruit out of Canada has been absolutely sensational for the Orange and Blue and has turned into a premier running mate with star sophomore Berry Wallace.
Parchment is a budding star in college basketball, and she showed that again on Sunday against the Huskies. In 38 minutes of play, the Whitby, Ontario, product led all scorers with 23 points and 10 rebounds, giving Parchment her seventh double-double of the season.
On Wednesday, she will most likely be matched up against Oregon forward Mia Jacobs. Jacobs, a senior transfer from Fresno State, was one of the top stretch-forwards in the Mountain West last season. Through 34 games with the Bulldogs, Jacobs was able to average 18.3 points per game while also recording 19 double-doubles.
Parchment will need to deal with a much more experienced big in Jacobs. But with the way she's been playing this season, and the tests she's already faced through her first 22 games, it's hard not to bet on the 'Canadian Icon' to have a great game.
2. Can the Illini take care of the ball against one of the best turnover-producing teams in the country?
The Ducks have a nose for the basketball, and that is a fact. They are a defensive-minded team that has a knack for separating their opponent from the basketball to the tune of 19.8 turnovers forced per game.
Oregon, however, will be taking on an Illinois squad that is one of the best at taking care of the basketball. Green's squad is great at making the most of every possession, while only turning the ball over 12.5 times per contest (No. 16 in the country).
Illinois' opponent on Wednesday has been taking advantage of their defensive prowess all season long, scoring an average of 22.1 points per game off of their opponents' turnovers. If the Illini can limit their mistakes in Eugene, then they are going to take a major part of Oregon's game away from them.
3. Will Oregon forward Ehis Etute have another big night after crushing Maryland?
Illinois' frontcourt has been special this season with Wallace and Parchment making up one of the best duos in the entire country. But on Wednesday, they will be taking on a member of the Ducks who's been heating up in recent games: forward Ehis Etute.
Etute, a 6-foot sophomore from Dudelange, Luxembourg, has certainly turned it on throughout the past few weeks. In her first seven games of the year, Etute was struggling to get quality minutes, averaging 5.4 points in 15.5 minutes per game.
But now, Etute has become a completely different player. She is coming off a stellar outing against the No. 16 Maryland Terrapins, where she recorded 26 points and 11 rebounds in 32 minutes of play. This marked Etute's third double-double in her last five games, and her fourth 12+ points game in her last six.
Normally, I'm not concerned when it comes to Wallace and Parchment, but whenever a player is on a streak like Etute's, it's hard not to notice it. Keep an eye on the sophomore and see how she matches up with Illinois' dynamic frontcourt.