By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 28, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – While it wasn’t the prettiest of wins against a significantly weaker squad, the Illinois women’s basketball team finished strong, defeating Purdue 83-73 to stay undefeated in Big Ten play and post the best overall start in program history.

Illinois (12-1, 2-0 in Big Ten), came out of the gates fast, getting up early on Purdue (8-5, 0-2 in Big Ten) to start the game. While the team has been plagued by slow starts this year, Maddie Webber had another plug-and-play performance from the bench, scoring 11 points in the first quarter to push the team to a 10-point lead to end the first 10 minutes of action.

After claiming the lead, the Illini weren’t quite out of the woods just yet. Purdue had a day scoring from the paint, scoring 28 of their 38 first-half points from near the basket to stay within two points at halftime.

In the third, a hot start from Gretchen Dolan, who had 9 points in the frame, and a handful of Boilermaker players beginning to enter foul trouble, helped fuel what became a 27-15 quarter for the Illini. Dolan had 15 points in the second half, and Berry Wallace tallied an additional 12 to help the Illini keep the Boilermakers out of arm’s reach.

Wallace led all scorers with 21, while Dolan had 19 of her own. Freshman Cearah Parchment found the free-throw line with ease in this game, scoring 15 points and going 10-of-11 from the charity stripe.

What has started as a historic season of sorts for the women's basketball team has become even more so. As IlliniGuys’ Kedric Prince pointed out, it’s the first time the team has started out 2-0 in Big Ten play in the last 17 years.

The 12-1 record in the best 13-game start in program history. The Illini have started a season 11-2 six times, including twice under Green in 2022-23 and again last year.

With action in 2025 wrapped up, the Illini will head home for their toughest test yet later this week, hosting No. 7 Maryland on New Year's Day. In last year’s meeting, Shauna Green’s Illini squad went on the road to upset a then-14th-ranked Maryland 66-65. Tipoff will be at 3 p.m., and the game will be on the Big Ten Network.