Coming off a tough loss, the women’s Illinois basketball team played a mid-day game on Tuesday.
This was a chance for the Illini to get back on track. We had a chance to knock off Oregon State days ago, but that game didn’t end the way we had wanted it to. So, Illinois unleashed their wrath on Murray State.
The Racers were able to get a couple of early buckets to take the lead, but Illinois fought back quickly. Aggression and tempo was the name of the game for the Illini, as we controlled the day. This enabled us to win the game over Murray State, 84-64.
Here are five solid observations from the Illinois basketball win over Murray State
1. Berry Wallace cranked up her aggression
Illinois is coming off a disappointing loss to Oregon State. Berry Wallace is the leader of this team, and she needed to take things into her own hands.
Wallace had a great game on Tuesday against Murray State. She finished the contest with 22 points, eight rebounds, one block, and one assist. She shot 6-of-13 from the floor and 2-of-4 from three-point range.
From the jump, it was clear that Wallace was going to be more aggressive in this game. She was in the paint early on, and this got the Racers to fall back when defending her. Wallace then made them pay with a couple of crucial three-pointers.
Getting to the free throw line was a priority, too. Wallace used her athletic ability in the paint to help draw that contact. She went 8-of-8 from the charity stripe on Tuesday.
This type of Wallace is exactly what Illinois needs moving forward. She has All-American ability, and we just need it in every game.
2. I love what Cearah Parchment brings in the paint
When it is all said and done, I think Wallace and Cearah Parchment could be one of the most prolific one-two punches in Illinois history.
While Wallace is hitting shots from all levels, Parchment is one of the main facilitators of the ball. A lot of the offensive production runs through her, and without her on the court, Illinois can get stagnant at times.
Parchment’s numbers weren't mind-blowing on Tuesday. She played 26 minutes and had 10 points, 11 rebounds, and two steals. It was the impact that wasn’t in the box score that most impressed me about her game.
You can’t see it unless you watched, but Parchment is a monster in the paint. She can rebound well, much like Kendall Bostic, but Parchment is also someone who comes out and sets screens constantly. She is given the ball around the free throw line, and she helps generate points from that point on.
Illinois learned their lesson from the Oregon State showing. We can’t just sit there with the ball and not keep moving. Parchment helps that movement and keeps Illinois flowing toward the basket. Her contributions are invaluable to this program.
3. A hello world moment for Destiny Jackson
I have been waiting for Destiny Jackson to show her five-star talent. She was highly touted coming out of Chicago, but it has taken her a minute to really burst onto the scene.
On Tuesday, she had a hello world moment. Jackson was all over the court for the Illini. Murray State was hit with a dynamic Jackson, who was aggressive toward the basket but was also able to put a three-pointer in your eye at any time.
Jackson finished the game with 18 points, five assists, four rebounds, and one steal. She shot 6-of-8 from the floor and 3-of-4 from the three-point arc. Jackson also hit all three of her free throws.
Illinois is filled with a ton of wings and bigs. We need more guard talent to step up, and that is why Shauna Green snagged this talented guard. If Jackson can continue to improve and put up solid numbers, as she did against Murray State, then Illinois has a legitimate chance to do something special this season.
4. Illinois closed out well at the three-point arc
There is plenty to rave about when it comes to the offensive end of the court. Illinois put up 84 points, and we had four players score double-digit points.
Something that I noticed the Illini did well was closing out on the three-point arc. The Murray State numbers show that Illinois had a good defensive effort, too. They were just 8-of-30 from three-point range, which is 27%.
Illinois did a great job hustling after each Murray State shooter. They didn’t just concede the three-pointer, but instead, the Illini defender closed out strong. The hand was up, and they didn’t lazily go after the offensive player.
This type of effort is why Murray State shot poorly. Illinois played a much better game offensively, but they need to show that the defense wouldn’t slack because of that effort. This was a great game on both ends of the court for the Illini.
5. The Illini have some quality depth pieces
Lastly, I want to point out the Illinois basketball depth. Last season, the Illini had good depth, but injuries plagued this program.
Heading into the 2025-26 campaign, I knew Illinois had good talent, but I wasn’t sure how the lineup would shake out. Now that we are a few games into the season, you can see who Green trusts on the court.
Illinois had the main starters of Parchment, Wallace, Jackson, Gretchen Dolan, and Jasmine Brown-Hagger. That is the lineup we have had this entire season. But the bench is what really piqued my interest on Tuesday.
Illinois went with a shorter bench, but the depth pieces have so much quality. I am mainly looking at Aaliyah Guyton and Maddie Webber.
The Guyton and Webber additions in the offseason are already paying dividends. They both played well against Murray State, giving the Illini a combined 19 points, three rebounds, two blocks, two assists, and one steal. They also shot 7-of-13 from the field.
Green lost a ton of talent from last season, but I think this team is just as talented. Illinois is young, and they are just now starting to gel.