Illinois vs. #19 Ohio State

Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026 - 6pm CT

State Farm Center, Champaign, Ill.

TV: BTN Plus

Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network

Head Coach Shauna Green

Career Record: 232-112 (.674), 12th season
Division I Record: 203-87 (.700), 10th season
At Illinois: 76-37 (.673), Fourth season
Big Ten Record: 33-25 (.569), Fourth season

THE NEXT WIN WOULD...

• Move the Illini to 21-59 all-time vs. Ohio State
• Improve Green to 1-3 overall vs. Ohio State
• Mark Illinois' 1st win vs. OSU since 2/14/2015
• Mark wins over 14 different Big Ten teams for Green
• Move Illinois to 49-11 in home games under Green
• Give the Illini an 11-game home win streak
• Mark UI's first 4-1 B1G start since 2022-23
• Move Green's career record to 233-112 in 12 seasons
• Improve Green to 34-25 in Big Ten games
• Move Green's DI record to 204-87 in 10 seasons
• Move Green's Illinois record to 77-37
• Give Illinois WBB an all-time record of 723-777

OPENING TIP

The 52nd campaign of Illinois women's basketball continues on Wednesday, Jan. 7, when Illinois hosts #19/20 Ohio State for a 6 p.m. CT game on B1G+ from State Farm Center. Mike Koon (PxP) and Kendall Bostic (analyst) will call the action for the Illini on the Busey Bank Illini Sports Network (1400 AM/93.9 FM). Streaming, audio, and stats links are also available at FightingIllini.com/WBB.

• Illinois has a ranked win all 4 seasons under Green
• Illinois has been ranked or receiving votes at some point during all four seasons under Green
• The Illini's 11-game win streak was the longest single-season streak and tied the longest win streak that spanned the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons
• 10 non-con wins tied program record
• Illinois went a perfect 6-0 in December
• Best 14-game start in program history at 13-1
• Matched best 15-game start at 13-2
• Illinois' 3-0 start in Big Ten play was the program's best start since a 4-0 start during the 1999-2000 season
• The Illini are in the midst of a 3-game stretch vs. ranked opponents (#7/6 Maryland, at #24/19 Michigan State, #19/19 Ohio State)
• Five of Illinois' next 7 opponents are ranked

ABOUT THE OPPONENT

Ohio State is off to a 13-2 start on the season including a 3-1 reading in Big Ten play. The Buckeyes' losses came to No. 1 UConn and No. 4 UCLA. Most recently, OSU took down Rutgers and Purdue. The Buckeyes also own a win over No. 21/20 West Virginia. Head coach Kevin McGuff is in his 13th season in Columbus.

ALL-TIME SERIES INFO

Ohio State leads the all-time series against Illinois, 59-20, with Wednesday's game marking the 80th all-time meeting. The Buckeyes lead 22-14 when the series has been played in Champaign. OSU has won the last 13 meetings in the series. The Illini are 0-3 against Ohio State since Shauna Green took over the Illinois helm.

15-GAME START

Illinois' 13-2 start through 15 games matches the best start in program history. This mark has been achieved three times, including two of Shauna Green's teams.

BEST 15-GAME STARTS

Rank Season  Record Coach

BEST 16-GAME STARTS

The best 16-game start in program history is a 14-2 reading, achieved by Green's 2022-23 squad. The 2025-26 Illinois team has the chance to match that mark on Thursday with a win.

BEST 16-GAME STARTS

Rank  Season             Record    Coach

TAKING CARE OF THE BALL

Since the arrival of Shauna Green, Illinois has taken care of the basketball at an elite clip, turning in three straight seasons ranked with the second fewest turnovers in the Big Ten. The staff's goal is 13 turnovers or less per game and the Orange and Blue have averaged below that all three seasons completed seasons.

TURNOVERS/GAME UNDER GREEN

Season Avg. B1G Rank D-1 Rank

EFFICIENCY FROM THE CHARITY STRIPE

Green's Illini have been incredibly efficient from the free throw line. Illinois has led the Big Ten in free throw shooting the last two completed seasons and is doing so once again in 2025-26. The Illini's numbers from 2023-24 and 2024-25 are the two best completed single-season free throw percentages in program history. Following the holiday break, Illinois leads Division I with an 82.8% mark from the stripe.

FREE THROW PERCENTAGE UNDER GREEN

Season Pct. B1G Rank D-1 Rank

DOUBLE THE ACCOLADES

For the first time of the 2025-26 campaign, Illinois women's basketball has two players recognized with Big Ten weekly accolades. Cearah Parchment was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the second time this season while Berry Wallace earned a spot on the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll for the second time as well.

The Illini duo delivered night after night for the Illini during the three-game stretch the award covered (at Purdue, #7/6 Maryland, at #24/19 Michigan State) as Illinois went 2-1 over the span. On top of the first win at Purdue in over a decade, Illinois earned a statement win over No. 7/6 Maryland that marked the highest ranked win over a Big Ten team in program history. Parchment and Wallace have played a large role in Illinois' 13-2 record, matching the best 15-game start in program history.

Parchment delivered a standout three-game stretch for the Fighting Illini following the holiday break, looking nothing like a freshman on the hardwood. The Whitby, Ontario, Canada native averaged 12.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game. The rookie did that while playing 30.5 minutes per game and shooting 44.4% FG (8-for-18), 33.3% 3FG (1-for-3), and 87.0% FT (20-for-23).

Across the three-game span, Wallace averaged 21.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.3 steals, and 1 block per game. The sophomore did that while playing 38 minutes per game and shooting a scorching 50% FG (22-for-44), 50% 3FG (8-for-16), and 92.9% FT (13-for-14). Wallace registered three straight 20-point games and is up to eight on the season.