Illinois Mounts Furious Comeback, But Falls Just Short at Oregon
EUGENE, Ore. - For a moment, it looked like Illinois had pulled off the impossible.
Down by 21 points early in the third quarter, the Illini were getting run out of the building. Oregon was rolling, the crowd was buzzing, and Illinois looked like a team teetering on the edge of collapse.
But instead of folding, the Illini fought back - and they did it with grit, urgency, and a trio of players who refused to let the game slip away without a fight.
Berry Wallace, playing through a broken nose and masked up like a defensive back, led the charge. She combined with freshmen Cearah Parchment and Destiny Jackson to spark a stunning 21-0 run that tied the game and completely flipped the energy in the building. Suddenly, Illinois was not just back in it - they were in control.
Wallace, the team’s leading scorer, poured in 19 points, marking her 13th straight game in double figures. Her presence on both ends - even while playing through injury - set the tone for a second-half surge that nearly stole the show.
Jackson, showing poise well beyond her years, filled the stat sheet with 13 points, seven assists, and six rebounds. She was the engine behind the Illini’s transition game and kept the ball moving when Oregon’s defense tightened up. Parchment added 11 points and six boards of her own, continuing to prove she’s more than ready for the big stage.
And don’t overlook Maddie Webber. The sophomore came off the bench and delivered a crucial spark early in the fourth quarter, scoring eight of her 10 points in a flurry that helped Illinois take its first lead of the night.
That lead would hold - until the final seconds.
Oregon, which had led comfortably for most of the game, found itself scrambling to answer Illinois’ run. The Ducks clawed back in the fourth and finally reclaimed the lead for good on a Katie Fiso layup with just eight seconds left. That bucket sealed a 76-73 win for Oregon, who moved to 18-7 on the season and 6-6 in Pac-12 play.
Illinois, now 16-7 overall and 6-6 in the Big Ten, walks away with a tough loss - but also with plenty to build on. The heart they showed in that second half, especially from their young core, is the kind of thing that travels well in March.
Next up, the Illini return home for a Sunday showdown with USC. Tipoff is set for 12 p.m.
CT at State Farm Center, where Illinois is hoping to pack the house. After a performance like this, they’ve earned the crowd’s attention.