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Illinois upsets No. 18 Michigan State in Big Ten tournament
10th-seeded Illini hold off late charge from Spartans to advance to quarterfinals
Published on Mar. 6, 2026
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Cearah Parchment scored 15 points and made key defensive plays down the stretch as Illinois upset No. 18 Michigan State 71-69 in the second round of the Big Ten women's basketball tournament. The Illini weathered a career-high 30 points from Michigan State's Kennedy Blair and held on for the victory, sending them to the quarterfinals to face Iowa.
Why it matters
The upset win over a ranked opponent is a big boost for the Illinois program, which has struggled in recent seasons. The Illini's ability to make defensive stops late in the game against a talented Michigan State team shows their growth and competitiveness in the Big Ten.
The details
Illinois used a balanced scoring attack, with five players reaching double figures, to overcome Michigan State's star performance from Kennedy Blair. The Illini's defense came up big in the final minutes, forcing a key turnover and then denying Michigan State a final look at the basket to preserve the victory.
- The game was played on Thursday in the second round of the 2026 Big Ten women's basketball tournament in Indianapolis.
The players
Cearah Parchment
A key player for Illinois, Parchment scored 15 points and made crucial defensive plays down the stretch to help the Illini upset Michigan State.
Kennedy Blair
The standout player for Michigan State, Blair scored a career-high 30 points in the losing effort.
Destiny Jackson
An Illinois player who scored 14 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in the upset win.
Maddie Webber
An Illinois player who came off the bench to score 13 points and help fill the void with a teammate in foul trouble.
Jasmine Brown-Hagger
An Illinois player who scored 12 points in the victory.
What they’re saying
“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”
— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)
The takeaway
This upset win shows the growth and competitiveness of the Illinois women's basketball program, which was able to overcome a standout individual performance and make key defensive plays down the stretch to advance in the Big Ten tournament.
