UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (Chambana Today) — Riding one of the strongest starts in program history, the Illinois women’s basketball team heads east Sunday afternoon for a Big Ten matchup against Penn State at the Bryce Jordan Center.
Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. CT, with the game airing on Big Ten Network. Radio coverage will be provided by the Busey Bank Illini Sports Network.
Illinois enters the contest at 13-3 overall, matching the second-best 16-game start in program history. The Illini have already stacked milestones this season, including a program-record-tying 10 nonconference wins, a perfect 6-0 December and a 3-0 start to Big Ten play — the program’s best league opening since the 1999–2000 season.
Under fourth-year head coach Shauna Green, Illinois has developed a reputation for consistency and resilience. The Illini have been ranked or received votes in all four seasons under Green and have recorded at least one ranked win each year. This season, Illinois recently navigated a grueling stretch that included three ranked opponents in seven days — Maryland, Michigan State and Ohio State.
“We’ve been tested early,” Green said earlier this week. “That kind of schedule shows you who you are and what you still need to work on.”
Illinois’ balanced lineup has fueled its success. Sophomore forward Berry Wallace leads the team at 18.1 points per game and has already posted eight 20-point performances this season. Freshman forward Cearah Parchment has emerged as a key presence in the paint, averaging 11.7 points and 7.8 rebounds and coming off a season-high 20-point outing against Ohio State.
In the backcourt, redshirt sophomore Gretchen Dolan is averaging 14.2 points per game, while freshman Destiny Jackson has provided steady playmaking, dishing out nearly five assists per contest.
Penn State, meanwhile, is still searching for its first Big Ten win. The Nittany Lions enter Sunday’s game at 7-9 overall and 0-5 in conference play under seventh-year head coach Carolyn Kieger. Penn State is 4-4 at home this season but has yet to face a common opponent with Illinois.
Historically, Penn State has held the upper hand in the series, leading 39-19 overall and 21-5 in games played in University Park. But the recent trend has favored Illinois, which has won the last three meetings — all since Green took over the program.
A victory Sunday would give Illinois four straight wins over Penn State and improve Green to 4-0 against the Nittany Lions. It would also mark Illinois’ first 4-2 Big Ten start since the 2022–23 season.
