The women's Illinois basketball team is back in action tonight at the State Farm Center and will be taking on the visiting Bellarmine Knights.
This game comes just 48 hours after their 72-point routing of the Le Moyne Dolphins, where Berry Wallace and Company put up 100 points for the first time this season. It was a rough game to watch, and tonight is shaping up to be more of the same.
It is going to be a one-sided affair, with the Illini looking to continue this roll, as they move closer to the start of conference play. But even with another rout on the horizon, there are still a few things that we need to keep an eye out for.
1. Will forward Cearah Parchment strike twice?
On Sunday, we witnessed one of the coolest double-doubles in basketball. Freshman forward Cearah Parchment recorded 17 points and 10 steals in 24 minutes of play. She became the second player in Illinois women's basketball history to record a points-steals double-double, and is the only freshman this season to achieve this feat.
But can she do it again tonight? Can lightning strike twice in Champaign? Obviously we shouldn't expect another double-double that includes steals. That would be a little extreme. But if this game goes the way we think it will, expect coach Shauna Green to spread the love when it comes to playing time and for Parchment to get enough time to make something happen.
2. How much of a fight should we expect from Bellarmine's defense?
The Bellarmine Knights have a scoring margin of -18, as of writing this. That should be more than enough information to explain how this game is going to go. But can the Knights' defense put up enough of a fight to not end like their predecessor?
On the surface, there is a possibility. When playing against the Knights, opponents have been shooting 39% from the field and 28% from beyond the arc. That is significantly better than Le Moyne, which is allowing 47% from the field and 30% from three-point range itself.
Can the Knights put on a better performance this evening? Absolutely! It's possible! But they're not coming away with the win, especially with Illinois shooting close to 50% from the field.