By IlliniGuys Staff

November 4, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Berry Wallace is the only player on this Illinois roster who has started in an NCAA tournament game. And Tuesday night, she looked very comfortable taking on the role of a leader on the Illini team.

The sophomore scored a career-high 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for her first double-double to lead Illinois to a 91-67 win over Southeast Missouri State in the season opener for both teams.

Wallace scored all of her 13 points before halftime in the second quarter to help the Illini build a 43-31 lead at the intermission. Shooting guard Gretchen Dolan, in her first action since last December due to a season-ending knee injury, added 16 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds. Villanova guard transfer Maddie Webber scored 16 points off the bench, 13 in the second half to punctuate her Illinois debut.

"I like how assertive they were and they were confident", Illinois head coach Shauna Green told the Illini Radio Network after the game. "It was great to see those guys and Berry really get into a rhythm tonight."

Freshman Destiny Jackson, Illinois' Miss Basketball of 2025 while playing for Chicago's Whitney Young High School, made her collegiate debut with a six assist night and only two turnovers.

"It's so hard to be a point guard and so hard to be a freshman point guard, but I can see her getting more confident", said Green. "(I'm) really proud of her growth. Six points, two turnovers in 33 minutes, that's big for a freshman."

Lexi McCully led Southeast Missouri State (0-1) with 16 points.

Illinois (1-0) has now won 10 straight non-conference games at State Farm Center, a streak that dates back to December, 2023. They'll look to extend that streak against Illinois State on Sunday (12pm, BTN-Plus).

Stay with IlliniGuys.com for complete postgame coverage.