Hot shooting Illini can't finish off upset of No. 9 Iowa

Illinois nearly pulled off a historic upset before falling short to the Hawkeyes 82-78.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The Fighting Illini nearly pulled off a major upset over No. 9 Iowa, but ultimately fell short 82-78 in a close game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Illinois shot an impressive 58% from three-point range, including 8-of-8 in the second half, but couldn't overcome Iowa's strong play down the stretch. Freshman forward Cearah Parchment had a double-double for the Illini, but the team's inexperience proved to be the difference as they struggled to capitalize when Iowa's leading scorer was sidelined for an extended period.

Why it matters

This was a chance for Illinois to notch a signature win over a top-10 opponent and boost their postseason hopes, but they ultimately came up just short. The loss is a tough one, but the Illini can take positives from their strong shooting performance and ability to hang with one of the Big Ten's best teams.

The details

Illinois pounded the paint early and showed off their versatility, attacking the rim when their three-point shots weren't falling. The game was a physical, back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading runs. Parchment's buzzer-beater three-pointer tied the game at 35 going into halftime. In the second half, the Illini caught fire from deep, hitting 8-of-8 three-pointers. However, their inexperience showed late as they struggled to capitalize when Iowa's leading scorer was sidelined, and they couldn't take care of the ball as well as the Hawkeyes down the stretch.

  • The game was played on February 27, 2026 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.

The players

Cearah Parchment

A freshman forward for the Illinois Fighting Illini who had a 20-point, 12-rebound double-double in the game.

Ava Heiden

The game's leading scorer with 28 points for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

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What they’re saying

“Being in these kinds of scenarios is a good learning lesson for such a young group, especially heading into the postseason, where we all know that if you can't do it when the lights are at their brightest, you're going home.”

— Shauna Green, Head Coach, Illinois Fighting Illini (The Champaign Room)

What’s next

The Illini will look to end their regular season with a win on senior day, as they welcome the No. 22 Minnesota Golden Gophers to State Farm Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be shown on the Big Ten Network.

The takeaway

While the Illini couldn't finish off the upset, this game showed that Illinois has the talent and potential to compete with the best teams in the Big Ten. The young team's experience in tight, high-stakes games like this will be invaluable as they head into the postseason.