The University of Illinois Fighting Illini women’s basketball team will play against the University of Colorado Buffaloes in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 21 at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee. The game is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Central Time and will be broadcast on ESPN2.
This matchup marks an important moment for Illinois, as it is their third appearance in four years at the NCAA Tournament and their second consecutive trip, a feat last achieved between 1996 and 2000. The winner of this game will advance to face either Vanderbilt or High Point in the next round.
Illinois enters the tournament with a record of 21-11, while Colorado holds a record of 22-11. Head coach Shauna Green leads Illinois into her fourth season, having recently become second on the program’s all-time win list with her 84th victory. Green’s teams have achieved back-to-back seasons with more than 21 wins for the first time in program history. “Green’s win over Michigan St. gave her sole possession of 2nd place on UI’s all-time win list (84),” according to information provided by Illinois Athletics.
The Illini roster features several standout players, including Berry Wallace, who has averaged over 18 points per game this season and recorded sixteen games with at least twenty points. Freshman Cearah Parchment set new school records for rebounds and double-doubles by a freshman, while Destiny Jackson broke the freshman assist record earlier this year.
Colorado is led by head coach JR Payne, now in her tenth season with a record of 186-127 and four NCAA Tournament appearances during her tenure. This meeting will be the seventh all-time between Illinois and Colorado but their first ever at a neutral site or postseason event.
The University of Illinois Fighting Illini women’s basketball program competes in NCAA Division I within the Big Ten Conference according to the official website. The program engages in both conference and non-conference games throughout each season according to the official website, operates from Champaign-Urbana according to the official website, enhances athletic heritage at Illinois according to the official website, and assists student-athletes with balancing academics and athletics while upholding traditions according to the official website.
Looking ahead, if Illinois secures another win under Coach Green, it would mark further progress for both her career milestones and for a young Illini squad that is currently noted as being one of the youngest teams across this year’s tournament field.
