3 key takeaways from Illinois basketball win over North Texas

The Illinois women's basketball team has extended their winning streak to eight games after a dominating performance against North Texas.

It was the one-sided affair that we were all expecting, with head coach Shauna Green's squad taking down the Mean Green by a score of 81-69. The Illini, once again, dictated the pace of the game from the opening tip to the final buzzer.

This team continues to play with an intensity that would make even the most pessimistic fan smile. But what are some of the biggest takeaways from this game that we can consider noteworthy?

1. Illinois was on point from beyond the arc

It's an odd thing to say with this team having such an elite offense, but the Illini aren't really known for their long-range shooting. Prior to Sunday's game against North Texas, the Navy and Orange had been shooting 30.6% from three, which ranks No.170 in the country.

However, that all changed against North Texas, as Illinois went 11-of-17 (65%) from long range, scoring 33 of their 81 points from deep. They were led by the likes of Berry Wallace, Gretchen Dolan, and Maddie Webber, who all made at least three three-pointers in 30+ minutes of action.

Illinois continues to impress the world, showing that they have multiple players who can score at all three levels. Sure, they're not going to shoot like this on a nightly basis, but if this is a sign of them becoming more consistent from three, then this team is going to be even more dangerous as the season moves on.

2. Megan Nestor was a non-factor in the paint for North Texas

Prior to the start of this game, Megan Nestor was one of the biggest question marks rattling around in my head. How will the young frontcourt of Wallace and Cearah Parchment defend one of the most physical forwards in the country? Can they limit her production this afternoon, after she recorded 34 points and 31 rebounds against Texas Southern?

The Canaries, St. Lucia, product had all of the momentum in the world heading into this game. But thanks to the elite defense of Green's squad, she was limited to only seven points and six rebounds in 22 minutes of play. She didn't really pose a threat to Illinois for the majority of this game, which forced the rest of her roster to step up in her place.

3. The turnovers for Illinois were absurd

The Illini won this game rather convincingly; that's a given. But to say that it was perfect from the opening tip to the final buzzer would be an understatement, especially when it comes to the number of turnovers that Illinois gave up.

It was a bit of a sloppy game, with Illinois turning the ball over a season-high 20 times to North Texas on Sunday at the State Farm Center. This was a bit out of the ordinary for this unit, with Illinois averaging only 11.5 turnovers per game (No. 13 in the country).

If anything, this game can really be seen as a "blip" on the radar for Illinois. They are one of the better teams in the country when it comes to taking care of the basketball. There is no reason to see this as a sign of things to come, but it should be just a note to remember as we move into the meat of the schedule.