Balanced Attack leads #10 Fighting Illini over Improved Badgers 

By Nick Jenkinson/Excel H Sports

   #10 Illinois Fighting Illini placed four in double figures as they beat the #15 Wisconsin Badgers 82-70 in the first round of the Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis Wednesday Evening. Illinois is 20-10 on the season and will play #7 Michigan State 22-7 Tomorrow evening at 6:30 PM in the second round. Wisconsin ends their season with a 13-17 record.

   Berry Wallace led the Fighting Illini with 22 points, going 8-17 from the field, 1-4 from three-point range and 5-5 from the free throw line along with 5 rebounds, 3 steals and an assist. Destiny Jackson scored 21 points going 5-8 from the field and 11-13 from the free throw line. Cearah Parchment scored 14 points, 2-and Lacey Vasconcelos added 12 points. The Illini were 28-59 from the field, 2-19 from three-point range for 10% and 24-29 from the free throw line for 82%. Illinois scored 46 points in the paint, 24 points off turnovers, 18 bench points, 14 fastbreak points and 14 second chance points.

    Gift Uchenna led Wisconsin with 24 points, going 10-16 from the field, 1-1 from three-point range and 3-6 from the free throw line. Kyrah Daniels added 18 points, and Laci Steele scored 12 points for a Wisconsin team who a season ago were 13-17 overall and 4-14 in the Big Ten and dismissed head coach Marisa Mosely. This season Wisconsin won 5 big ten games under new head coach Robin Pingeton that gives the Badgers a chance to compete in the Big Ten.

   Wisconsin finished 26-58 from the field for 44%, 8-21 form three-point range for 38% and 10-14 from the free throw line for 71%. The Badgers had 29 rebounds, 21 assists, 8 steals, 4 blocks and 19 turnovers. Wisconsin had 28 points in the paint, 10 points off turnovers, 8 fastbreak points, 7 bench points and 6 second chance points.

  Illinois led 23-17 after the first quarter and outscored the Badgers 18-16 in the second quarter leading at halftime 41-35. There were 5 lead changes and no ties as Illinois outscored Wisconsin 21-17 in the third quarter as the Fighting Illini led 62-50 going to the fourth quarter. Both teams scored 20 points in the fourth quarter, but the Illini were able to maintain the lead to advance to the next round against Michigan State. Wisconsin heads back to Madison with a lot to build on for next season.