UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (Chambana Today) — Berry Wallace and Maddie Webber delivered a one-two punch Sunday afternoon as Illinois pulled away from Penn State for a convincing 92–76 Big Ten road victory at the Bryce Jordan Center.
Wallace tied her career high with 28 points and added eight rebounds, while Webber poured in a season-best 26 points off the bench in a return to her home state. Behind the balanced scoring effort, Illinois matched the best 17-game start in program history and improved to 14–3 overall and 4–2 in conference play.
The Fighting Illini placed four players in double figures and showcased efficiency and depth throughout the afternoon. Destiny Jackson finished with 15 points and tied her career high with nine assists, while Cearah Parchment added 11 points and seven rebounds before fouling out late.
Illinois shot 50 percent from beyond the arc, connecting on 11 of 22 attempts, with Webber leading the way by knocking down five 3-pointers. The Illini also controlled the offensive glass, scoring 20 second-chance points off 10 offensive rebounds.
After a tight opening quarter, Illinois seized momentum behind Wallace, who scored the team’s first 12 points and helped the Illini take a 21–20 lead after one. Penn State briefly regained the advantage in the second quarter, but a 10–0 Illinois run swung the game, and the visitors carried a 43–32 lead into halftime.
Wallace led all scorers at the break with 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting, as Illinois steadily built separation in the second half. A late-third-quarter run pushed the lead to double digits, and the Illini continued to stretch the margin in the fourth, leading by as many as 21.
The Fighting Illini remain on the road and will face a major test Thursday night when they travel to Ann Arbor to take on No. 9 Michigan at 6 p.m. CT.
