Illinois Women's Basketball Aims to Extend Winning Streak Against Northwestern

The Illini look to build momentum heading into the postseason with a rivalry matchup against the struggling Wildcats.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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The Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketball team (18-8, 8-7 Big Ten) is looking to extend its winning streak to three games as it takes on in-state rival Northwestern (8-18, 2-13 Big Ten) on Sunday. After a strong performance in a 20-point win over Rutgers last week, the Illini are aiming to carry that momentum into the final stretch of the regular season and position themselves well for the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, Northwestern has lost eight straight games and is led by senior forward Grace Sullivan, who is averaging 22.0 points per game.

Why it matters

This rivalry matchup is crucial for both teams as they look to close out the regular season. For Illinois, a win would extend their winning streak and provide more positive momentum heading into postseason play. The Illini are aiming to solidify their NCAA Tournament resume, and every result matters at this stage. For Northwestern, this game represents an opportunity to end their lengthy losing skid and potentially build some late-season confidence, even as they struggle through a difficult campaign.

The details

Illinois has won the last seven meetings against Northwestern, including a 74-71 victory earlier this season in Champaign. The Illini have shown the ability to score in bunches and move the ball effectively when they're clicking, and they'll need that kind of balanced offensive performance to overcome the Wildcats' reliance on senior forward Grace Sullivan. If Illinois can contain Sullivan, who is Northwestern's clear focal point, the Illini should be able to take care of business on the road.

  • Illinois and Northwestern will tip off at 2 p.m. CT on Sunday, February 22, 2026.
  • Illinois defeated Rutgers by 20 points last week, while Northwestern dropped close games to Penn State and Michigan State.

The players

Grace Sullivan

A senior forward for Northwestern who is averaging 22.0 points per game and is the clear focal point of the Wildcats' offense.

Cearah Parchment

An Illinois forward who had a strong performance in the Illini's 74-71 win over Northwestern earlier this season.

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What’s next

After this matchup against Northwestern, Illinois will travel to College Park, Maryland to take on the #14 Maryland Terrapins on Wednesday, February 25.

The takeaway

This game represents an opportunity for Illinois to build momentum and solidify its NCAA Tournament positioning, while Northwestern looks to end its lengthy losing streak and potentially find some late-season confidence. The Illini's ability to contain Grace Sullivan and execute their balanced offensive attack will be key factors in determining the outcome of this rivalry matchup.