December 2, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – With conference play just around the corner, the Illinois women’s basketball team won its fifth-straight game, blowing out Bellarmine 90-41.

It was the second straight blowout victory for Illinois (7-1) after beating Le Moyne 100-28 on Sunday. Battling a bad injury bug, Bellarmine (2-8) had a clear size and depth disadvantage in this game, playing just eight players throughout the course of the game. The Illini feasted with that advantage, finishing with four players in double-digit scoring to the Knights’ zero.

Illinois out-rebounded Bellarmine 64-27 and, after entering Tuesday averaging 10.4 offensive rebounds, grabbed 27 offensive boards. Those led to 28 second-chance points, while Bellarmine had no second-chance points. The Illini also scored 29 points off 20 Knights turnovers.

Star sophomore Berry Wallace had a quiet game, settling for just eight points, but her offensive production wasn’t needed in this game. Freshman Cearah Parchment logged her third double-double of the season, finishing with team-high marks of 16 points and 12 rebounds in just 21 minutes of action. Gretchan Dolan scored 11 while Destiny Jackson and Aaliyah Guyton added 10 points each.

Illinois is currently projected by ESPN to be a ninth seed in the latest Bracketology, and on Saturday, it will host another team expected to get a similar at-large bid come Selection Sunday. Indiana (7-1), is currently projected to be an eighth seed and will travel to Champaign for both teams’ Big Ten opener on Saturday. Tipoff from State Farm Center is slated for 11 a.m., and the game will be on Big Ten Network.