By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 18, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – After hitting the road and suffering its first loss of the season, the Illinois Fighting Illini women’s basketball team bounced back in a big way, downing Murray State 84-64 in the program’s annual Field Trip Day game.

The Illini (3-1) found most of their success inside the arc, going 23-for-41 on two-point attempts and converting on 16 of their 20 layups. Four players scored in double digits for the hosts, with Berry Wallace continuing to add onto what’s been a breakout start to her sophomore year with a game-high 22.

Defensively, Illinois did a good job of stifling the top two scorers for the Racers (2-2). Sharpshooter Halli Poock, who is a career 40-percent three-point shooter, was held to 15 points, while 6-foot-2 forward Sharnecce Currie-Jelks scored 14 while shooting just 38-percent from the field.

Having been prone to a few slow starts over the course of her Illinois tenure, Shauna Green’s squad hit the ground running to start the game, seizing the lead early and going up 26-15 at the end of the first quarter. Nine of Wallace’s 22 points were scored in the first. She also snagged eight rebounds in the game, helping the Illini build up a 41-33 lead on the boards.

The team’s fast start could also be attributed to the early efforts of freshman Cearah Parchment, who, despite dealing with foul trouble throughout the game, finished with her first collegiate double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

After suffering a slow start to her collegiate career, freshman guard Destiny Jackson had a breakout game, posting a career-high of 18 points. She was the bright spot on an Illini team that struggled to convert from deep all game long. As a team, Illinois shot 6-for-21 from three-point range, while the Chicago native went 3-for-4 on her own.

To end the third quarter, it was her effort from deep that got the Illini up to 67 points, much to the enjoyment of the 14 thousand field trippers in the arena (if you know, you know). The Illini built up a 23-point lead early on in the fourth quarter, and while they let their foot off the gas for a bit, the game was long gone at that point. Illinois had 23 points come from the bench, with Aaliyah Guyton and Maddie Webber combining for the majority of that with 19.

The Illini will hit the road for their next game, taking a trip down to Tallahassee, Florida, to take on Florida State on Sunday. The Seminoles are 3-2 and will be playing their fourth game against a Power Five opponent when they host the Illini. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m., and the game will be on ACC EXTRA.