Illinois (17-5, 7-4) earned its third-ranked win after beating No. 14 Maryland (17-5, 7-4) 66-65. The game came down to the last possession. Senior guard Shyanne Sellers missed the potential game-winner with one second left, giving Illinois the victory. Fifth-year guard Genesis Bryant led Illinois in scoring for the second straight game.
Sunday’s win makes four straight wins, the Illini’s best streak since late December. The game was back and forth from the opening tipoff, showing the highs and lows of the Illini. Here are some of the most important from the game.
High: Bryant, again
For the second straight game, Bryant willed Illinois to a win. Her 20 points led the team, along with her six made field goals. She played every minute again, putting her at 85 minutes total over the last two games.
Another win came off of Bryant in the clutch as well. With six seconds left in the game, Bryant drove to the rim. She missed the shot but drew a foul. The veteran drained both free throws to put Illinois on top. Her defense also affected Maryland, forcing misses on both potential game-winning shots.
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Low: Defensive rebounding
Throughout the game, Illinois missed opportunities to take possession. Maryland had 11 offensive rebounds, the third highest Illinois has allowed to a Big Ten opponent this season.
The box score doesn’t give the whole story either. Illinois struggled to corral defensive rebounds throughout the game. Maryland’s 14 second-chance points were a big part of the closeness of the game.
High: Berry Wallace
In one of the best games of her young career, freshman forward Berry Wallace fueled the Illini’s victory. She shot 4-9 from beyond the arc, including a three-pointer late in the third quarter to tie the game. The first-year had another one late in the fourth to stop a 4-0 Maryland run and make it a one-point game.
Wallace was confident all game in her shooting, letting it fly whenever she had a little bit of space. She came up big in clutch moments, and her defense was solid. She was primarily matched up against some of the best scorers for the Terrapins, like Sellers and junior guard Kaylene Smikle.
High: Hustle
All game, Illinois fought to get ahead. It had multiple runs of four or more points throughout the game. Early in the second quarter, Maryland led 20-11. After a 9-2 run from Illinois, including seven points from senior guard Adalia McKenzie, Maryland’s lead dropped to two.
This continued for most of the game. Maryland would go up by multiple scores, and Illinois would find a way to come back, putting itself in a position to win. It came down to the very last possession, and Illinois did what it had done all game.
Sellers had two chances to win; both times, the Illini defense stopped her. In the first opportunity, Illinois quickly double-teamed her after the inbound and forced an awkward shot, which missed. However, Illinois couldn’t collect the rebound, and Maryland got another chance.
For Sellers’ second shot, the Illini did the same. After the inbound, they played sharp defense and forced Sellers to take a hasty shot with only one second left. She missed, and Illinois emerged victorious.
Big win, big implications
The win against the Terrapins is a big one for the Illini, and not just because it’s their third ranked win. It brings the Illini to 7-4 in conference play. Before the game, they were ranked No. 9 in the Big Ten. With the win, they are tied at No. 5, with the tiebreaker over Maryland.
With the Big Ten tournament inching closer, a bump up in the standings benefits Illinois. As it stands, the team would play on the second day of the tournament instead of the first. If it can move up one more spot, Illinois would get another bye and start on the third day.
The win also improves its chances of a NCAA tournament appearance. Beating a top-15 opponent is a huge resume boost. With a month until the end of the season, Illinois continues to improve its chances at better seeding in both the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments.
Next up
Illinois is back home for its next game against Northwestern (7-12, 0-8) on Thursday. The two teams played earlier in the season, with Illinois winning in dominant fashion.
@Ben_some16
