Since it was announced that fifth-year guard Makira Cook and sophomore guard Gretchen Dolan wouldn’t return for the rest of the season, Illinois (18-5, 8-4) has reshaped its bench. A new face now leads the unit, and her impact over the last five games has risen exponentially.
Berry the bucket-getter
Freshman forward Berry Wallace has scored 14 or more points in four of the last five games. Her biggest game was against No. 14 Maryland (18-5, 8-4), scoring 14 points and hitting two three-pointers to keep Illinois close late in the game. The second three was even designed specifically for her.
Head coach Shauna Green drew up a play for Wallace. Down four with less than two minutes left, the freshman got the ball and hoisted a three. She sank it, creating a huge momentum swing for the Illini, who won the game by one point.
“I called a play for her in the fourth quarter,” Green said. “We’re down four, and I called a play for her to come off an action and get her a three-point shot. I have confidence in her, and she has confidence in herself.”
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Opening up the offense
Wallace’s shooting has been a boost to the offense. For most of the season, the Illini offense focused on getting downhill, driving to the rim and being aggressive. They didn’t make many three-pointers, and they didn’t attempt many either.
However, behind Wallace and fifth-year guard Genesis Bryant, the Illini’s shots from beyond the arc have been falling. The team still doesn’t take many three-pointers, but the efficiency has improved greatly. That efficiency has led to even better offensive output.
“It’s huge when you start making shots,” Green said. “Because again, we were so downhill driven and so ‘Get to the rim, put pressure on the defense, get fouled,’ that teams just go under everything.”
Wallace’s skill from three-point range has opened up the offense. They’ve been able to score from every level, and their spacing has improved.
Ball movement has also seen the impact of the three-point shooting. Illinois has at least 15 assists in the last five games, which is its most consistent stretch of the season.
Overflowing with confidence
Against Northwestern (7-14, 0-10), Wallace scored 14 points and made two three-pointers. However, after her first three-pointer, she went cold, missing three in a row. That didn’t stop the freshman, though. She shot two more from downtown, making one.
Perhaps the most admirable skill of Wallace’s is her confidence. She didn’t let her cold stretch get her down. She continued to shoot, no matter how many she missed.
Even when she isn’t in a slump, her confidence is impressive. It isn’t an unusual sight to see the Ohio native put a shot up with a hand in her face.
“A lot of my confidence comes from my teammates and my coaches,” Wallace said. “Just telling me to keep taking those shots, saying that they’re good shots and that they’ll fall even if I do miss some.”
Her teammates have high praise for her as well. They recognized how special she was the minute they saw her play.
“She came in, and we all were kind of like, ‘OK, she’s going to be good,’” said fifth-year forward Kendall Bostic. “She puts in the work, and I think she knows her game, and then she can use it to her advantage.”
Next up
Wallace and Illinois will travel to Madison on Sunday to play Wisconsin (11-12, 2-10). Despite a weak overall record, its record at home is an impressive 8-4. Both of Wisconsin’s conference wins came at home.
The biggest offensive threat on Wisconsin is junior forward Serah Williams. She averages 19.1 points per game, third-best in the Big Ten. She works best in the paint, getting to the rim aggressively. She also frequents the charity stripe, averaging almost five free-throw attempts per game.
The paint will be a point of emphasis for Illinois. It has struggled there in defense recently, giving up 31.6 points in the paint per game over the last five games.
“(Northwestern) killed us inside,” Green said. “We got to adjust on that, especially going into Wisconsin where you have Serah Williams, one of the best post players in the country.”
Illinois will likely have to lean on Wallace, as well as Bostic, to protect the paint. On offense, Wallace will have the opportunity to shoot. Wisconsin’s three-point defense is in the lower half of the conference.
Fatigue could very well play a factor in this game. Illinois has not had much opportunity for rest recently. Over the past three games, Bryant has played 122 minutes, Bostic has 120 minutes, senior forward Brynn Shoup-Hill has 111 minutes and Wallace, a freshman, has 99 minutes.
Fatigue, combined with Wisconsin’s home record and its success in the paint on offense, could give Illinois some trouble. However, adversity isn’t a stranger to the Illini this season, so they may very well battle through it.
@ben_some16
