Illinois’ frontcourt overloads Colorado’s defense in NCAA Tournament loss
- Lila Nuttle
- 11 hours ago
- 2 min read
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Heading into their Round of 64 matchup against Illinois, the Colorado Buffaloes focus was the Fighting Illini’s underclassmen forwards.
Entering Saturday, the frontcourt duo of Berry Wallace and Cearah Parchment combined to average around 31 points and 14 rebounds per game. They ended with 18 and 21 points respectively, and Parchment set the Illinois freshman scoring record with 451 points on the season.
“We did what we could to make their touches difficult,” Colorado head coach JR Payne said. “To contest shots, to be disruptive, but in the end, very good players find ways, and their very good players did find ways.”
Payne threw a rotation at them. Forwards Jade Masogayo, Logyn Greer, Tabitha Betson and even guard Erianna Gooden did their time guarding them, but it didn’t make a difference. Their mobility and range made it even tougher. Parchment notched 15 points by halftime, including going 2-for-2 from 3-point range, and Wallace steadily produced throughout the game.
Defensively, they smothered CU’s posts, quickly collapsing anytime the ball got inside. Redshirt junior guard Desiree Wooten was dynamic downhill for the Buffs, sinking floaters early on, but Illinois soon closed the paint.
Illinois head coach Shauna Green noted the importance of keeping Colorado out of the lane, which it succeeded in after the first quarter. CU had 16 points inside in the first quarter, but just four in the second.
“I thought down the stretch, we were able to execute game plan a little bit better of just trying to really take away that paint,” Green said.
Colorado quelled Parchment and Wallace later in the second half. They folded in the paint to corral the Illini deep under the basket, forcing them to pass out. But where Illinois’ frontcourt ended, guard Destiny Jackson began.
With the focus on the bigs, the 5-foot-6 guard sliced and diced her way through Colorado’s defense, while menacing the Buffs’ ball handlers. She had 11 of her 16 points in the final quarter to hold off any chance of a CU comeback.
The combination of the bigs and Jackson provided three double-digit scorers for the Fighting Illini. Colorado couldn’t match that level of production, with just two players – Wooten and Masogayo – finishing with more than 10.
“We needed more defensive stops,” Payne said. “And we just weren’t able to get it. We were trying all kinds of different things on Parchment and Wallace, and it just didn’t seem like anyone could get it done.”
In the end, the Buffaloes’ inability to stop the frontcourt, along with their sparse offense, cost them the season. They will fly home to Boulder as Parchment and Wallace keep dancing in Music City.