The Illini (9-1) are back in State Farm Center for their latest contest against the North Texas Mean Green (6-3) women’s basketball program. 

Illinois is coming off its seventh straight victory of the season after a 70-62 win against Missouri (9-3) for the program’s Braggin’ Rights match. 

“We’ve always instilled our principles and our philosophies,” said head coach Shauna Green. “It’s nothing complicated, but it’s hard to do because it takes great effort, great discipline, and great intensity.”

With another non-Power Four opponent on Illinois’ slate, here are four intense predictions ahead of the game that match Illinois’ intensity and efforts. 

Prediction 1: Wallace drops 20

After starting off the season with four straight 20+ point games, sophomore forward Berry Wallace has slowed down her scoring.  In two of her last three games, Wallace scored eight points.

Tomorrow’s performance against North Texas is a great opportunity for Wallace to be on fire on the court and drop 20 points again. While it’s a good thing other players are stepping up and scoring, Wallace needs to find the numbers she was putting up earlier in the season.

Wallace went from averaging 23.77 points in the first four games to averaging 11.75 points in her last four games. Her scoring has gone down by half from the first four to the last four. She has the potential and power to get back to 20+ point games.

As Illinois’ opponents are about to get more challenging, a game against North Texas is the perfect chance to reignite the fire she had earlier in the season. 

Prediction 2: Dolan makes her 3-point shots

After arguably her best game against the Tigers, junior guard Gretchen Dolan should go into Sunday’s game with confidence and fire. 

Dolan played for the entire 40 minutes against Missouri, and while it’s unlikely that she will play for 40 again, she has the chance to showcase her veteran skills on the court. 

One of the best ways Dolan can shine on the court is by making her 3-point shots. Dolan is currently averaging 23.7% from beyond the arc, and that number should be much higher. 

While Dolan went 3 for 6 from three at Missouri, the consistency of making a higher percentage of her 3-point shots is what needs improvement. 

Dolan’s recent performances indicate that she is on the up and up, and she’s showing up on the court like a veteran. If Dolan can make over half of her 3-point shots Sunday, it would be incredible for her and the Illini.

Prediction 3: Noya Catoira has her best game

Sophomore forward Irene Noya Catoira is having a breakthrough sophomore season. She’s not a starter, and she doesn’t play the most minutes off the bench. However, it’s what she does with her minutes that showcases her dependability on the court. 

Noya Catoira saw two good games against Le Moyne (1-7) and Bellarmine (2-9). Against Le Moyne, Noya Catoira played for nine minutes but managed five points and three steals. 

The Spanish native has the chance to have one of her best games, scoring-wise and also defensively. Green previously said that Noya Catoira is ready when she calls her name and can put on a solid performance defensively. Green also mentioned that Noya Catoira is starting to step up in score. 

Noya Catoira’s defensive presence, but also her increased offensive talents, are setting her up for what could be her best game of the season. 

Prediction 4: The Illini defense holds the Mean Green to less than 50

Illinois’ defense has been improving each and every game. It would be a bold move on the Illini’s behalf to hold the Mean Green to 50 points or less. 

North Texas is averaging about 72.89 points per game. However, if you split that up between its winning and losing games, the breakdown is 83.83 points per game when it wins and 51 points per game when it loses. 

Improving consistency on the Illini’s defense is evident after Wednesday’s game with the Tigers. The Illini were able to secure a 12-point win. However, the Tigers clawed close to the Illini, making it a one-point game at times. 

Redshirt sophomore center Lety Vasconcelos will be a key asset in the consistency and improvement of the defense. As she continues to get back into the swing of things following her injury last year, she can grow her confidence on the court and be one of the defense’s shining key players. 

“Playing defense as a team has actually led us into a lot of steals,” Green said. “It’s also why we’re winning, and we’re getting so many more opportunities.

Freshman forward Cearah Parchment is another key defensive asset to Illinois. Against Le Moyne, she had an insane double-double that included 10 steals. Parchment is also blocking more and attempting to minimize her turnovers. The Canadian is one of the Illini’s most versatile players. She is consistently one of the highest scorers and also adds to the defense through blocks and steals. 

“When I’m playing well defensively, it unlocks everything,” said junior guard Maddie Webber. “I’m going to play better on offense if I’m playing good defense. It’s kind of what fuels me.”

Lastly, Webber has been another key presence for Illinois’ defense. Her performance defensively is what she said helps her score more points and play better offensively. 

For Illinois’ defense in this next matchup, if it can hand North Texas its fourth loss and 50 points or less, it would show fans that its defense can step up to the challenge and perform consistently. 

Tipoff for Illinois against North Texas is set for 2 p.m. CDT. The game will feature a teddy bear toss at halftime for the toy drive.

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