Illinois women open up season with win at home against SEMO

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois never trailed en route to a 91-67 season-opening victory over Southeast Missouri State on Tuesday night at State Farm Center. 

The Fighting Illini (1-0) had three players score in double figures, led by Berry Wallace, who secured a double-double with 27 points and 11 rebounds, setting career-highs in both categories.

Maddie Webber tacked on 16 points from the bench, and Gretchen Dolan chipped in as well with a career-high 16 points and seven assists.

Illinois took advantage of excellent ball movement in Tuesday's game, piling up 19 assists on 31 made field goals. Dolan's seven assists led the distribution list for the Fighting Illini, and Destiny Jackson also added six assists of her own.

In her first game action in over 600 days, Lety Vasconcelos marked her Illinois debut with seven points and six rebounds.

How It Happened

After jumping out to a 6-4 advantage, Illinois went on a 6-0 run with 8:05 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Cearah Parchment, to increase its lead to 12-4. The Fighting Illini then lost some of that lead, but still entered the quarter break with a 19-15 advantage.

The Fighting Illini used the second period to increase their lead and entered halftime with a 43-31 edge.

Following intermission, Illinois continued to expand its advantage, pushing it to 60-37 before going on a 6-0 run to expand its lead further to 66-37 with 2:58 to go in the third. The Fighting Illini held onto that lead for the rest of the frame and entered the fourth quarter with a 72-43 edge. Illinois played well near the basket, scoring 16 of its 29 points in the paint.

Illinois kept its lead intact before going on a 5-0 run, finished off by Jackson's layup, to grow the lead to 80-55 with 3:54 to go in the contest. The Redhawks narrowed the margin before the game was over, but the Fighting Illini still cruised the rest of the way for the 91-67 win. Illinois fired away from deep in the quarter, knocking down three shots to account for nine of its 19 points.

The Illini return to State Farm Center on Sunday afternoon for an in-state battle against Illinois State at 12 p.m. CT.