Late Surge Not Enough as Illinois Falls to USC at Home
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - For Illinois, Sunday’s matchup against USC felt like déjà vu - another game, another sluggish start, and another uphill climb that came up just short. In front of a sellout crowd at State Farm Center for the Play4Kay Pink Game, the Illini dropped a 70-62 decision to the visiting Trojans, a result that pushes Illinois down to 11th in the tightly packed Big Ten standings at 16-8 (6-7 B1G). USC, meanwhile, edges ahead at 15-9 (7-6).
The Illini were once again left chasing the game after a first half that lacked rhythm and urgency on both ends of the floor. And while the second-half spark was there - as it has been in recent weeks - the hole was simply too deep this time around.
Destiny Jackson Shines in Defeat
There were bright spots, though, and none brighter than freshman point guard Destiny Jackson. The young floor general led the team with 17 points, showing poise beyond her years.
Twelve of those came in the second half, where she pushed the tempo and tried to will her squad back into contention. Her ability to control the pace and attack off the dribble gave Illinois a much-needed jolt, especially in the fourth quarter.
Another freshman, Cearah Parchment, delivered her sixth career double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. She struggled to find her rhythm early but came alive in the second half, crashing the boards and finishing through contact. Her physicality in the paint was a key part of Illinois’ late push.
Trojans’ Offense Too Much Early
But the story of the game was the first half - and USC’s Jazzy Davidson made sure of that. The freshman phenom exploded for 27 points before halftime, torching Illinois from all over the floor.
Whether it was off the dribble, in transition, or spotting up from deep, Davidson had it all working. Her performance set the tone, and Illinois never fully recovered.
Kennedy Smith and Kara Dunn added 20 and 14 points, respectively, giving the Trojans a balanced attack that kept Illinois’ defense guessing. The Illini initially focused on clogging the paint and taking away post touches, but that left USC shooters with too much space. The Trojans took full advantage, knocking down open looks and building a lead that ballooned to 19 points at one stage.
Another Slow Start Proves Costly
This wasn’t a one-off issue - it’s becoming a trend. Illinois has now lost four of its last five, and in each of those games, the first half has been a major problem.
Over that stretch, the Illini have averaged just 23.5 points in the opening 20 minutes. While they’ve made adjustments and surged late - averaging 72.5 points in those games overall - it’s hard to win consistently when you’re playing from behind every night.
Sunday followed that script. Illinois came out flat, struggled to generate clean looks, and couldn’t contain USC’s perimeter firepower.
But give credit to the coaching staff and players - the second-half adjustments were clear. The Illini ramped up the pressure, switched more aggressively on defense, and fought their way back into the game.
That defensive energy translated into a strong fourth quarter, where Illinois outscored USC 25-19. The crowd got into it, the momentum shifted, and for a few minutes, it felt like the comeback might actually happen. But time wasn’t on their side.
Looking Ahead
This Illinois team has talent - that much is clear. The freshman duo of Jackson and Parchment continues to grow with every game, and the pieces are there to compete in the Big Ten. But the margin for error in this league is razor-thin, and slow starts are proving to be the Achilles’ heel.
If the Illini can find a way to bring that second-half energy from the opening tip, they’ll be a tough out for anyone. For now, though, it’s back to the drawing board as they try to snap out of this midseason funk and climb back into the Big Ten race.