Illinois Faces Tough Test Against No. 18 Michigan State in Big Ten Tournament

The Illini look to avenge an earlier loss to the Spartans and advance in the postseason

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketball team will continue their postseason run on Thursday, facing off against the No. 18 Michigan State Spartans in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis. Illinois is coming off an 82-70 victory over Wisconsin in the first round, while Michigan State earned a first-round bye. The Spartans present a tough challenge for the Illini, led by senior forward Grace VanSlooten's 15.1 points per game. Illinois will need to finish strong late in the game to flip the result of their earlier 81-75 loss to Michigan State in January.

Why it matters

This matchup between Illinois and Michigan State features two teams vying for postseason positioning, with the winner advancing to the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals. The Illini are looking to prove they can compete with one of the conference's top teams, while the Spartans aim to solidify their NCAA Tournament resume.

The details

Illinois opened the Big Ten Tournament with an 82-70 victory over Wisconsin, setting up this second-round clash with Michigan State. The Spartans, who finished the regular season 22-7 overall and 11-7 in conference play, earned a first-round bye. Michigan State is led by senior forward Grace VanSlooten, who averages 15.1 points per game. In the teams' first meeting in January, the Spartans edged the Illini 81-75.

  • The game will tip off on Thursday, March 5 at 5:30 p.m. CT.
  • Illinois defeated Wisconsin 82-70 in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday.
  • Michigan State ended the regular season with a loss to Ohio State at home.

The players

Grace VanSlooten

A senior forward for Michigan State who averages 15.1 points per game and is the Spartans' leading scorer.

Berry Wallace

An Illinois forward who had a strong performance in the Illini's first-round win over Wisconsin.

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What they’re saying

“Our captain is built different🫡 Grace VanSlooten receives All-B1G Second Team honors!🏅”

— Michigan State Women's Basketball (Twitter)

“First round won!”

— Illinois Women's Basketball (Twitter)

What’s next

The winner of this game will advance to the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals on Friday, March 6.

The takeaway

This second-round matchup between Illinois and Michigan State features two teams looking to solidify their postseason positioning, with the Illini seeking to avenge an earlier loss to the Spartans and prove they can compete with one of the Big Ten's top teams.