Illinois Drains 3-Pointers But Falls Late to No. 9 Iowa

Illini women's basketball stays hot from deep but Hawkeyes close with 24-14 run to win 82-78.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketball team caught fire from 3-point range, draining 11-of-19 attempts, but the ninth-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes used a late surge to pull out an 82-78 victory at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Why it matters

This was a key Big Ten matchup between two teams jockeying for position in the conference standings. Illinois showed it can compete with one of the top teams in the league, but ultimately couldn't hold off Iowa's late rally.

The details

Illinois was led by Berry Wallace's 21 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, and Cearah Parchment's 20-point, 12-rebound double-double. The Illini shook off an early 10-0 deficit and took a 64-58 lead early in the fourth quarter, but Iowa closed the game on a 24-14 run to secure the win.

  • Illinois trailed just 20-17 after the first quarter.
  • The game was tied 35-35 at halftime.
  • Illinois led 56-56 entering the fourth quarter.
  • Illinois took a 64-58 lead with 7:53 remaining in the game.

The players

Berry Wallace

Illinois guard who led the team with 21 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter.

Cearah Parchment

Illinois freshman forward who recorded a 20-point, 12-rebound double-double.

Jasmine Brown-Hagger

Illinois guard who scored 15 points on a perfect 3-for-3 shooting night from 3-point range.

Aaliyah Guyton

Illinois guard who scored 11 points in her return to Iowa City.

Iowa Hawkeyes

The ninth-ranked women's basketball team that rallied late to defeat Illinois 82-78.

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What’s next

The loss drops Illinois to 19-9 overall and 9-8 in Big Ten play. They will look to bounce back on Sunday when they host Wisconsin.

The takeaway

Despite the loss, Illinois showed it can compete with one of the top teams in the Big Ten by draining 3-pointers at a high rate. The Illini will need to find a way to close out close games against elite opponents as they continue their push for a postseason berth.