Cearah Parchment and Berry Wallace Post 20-Point Double-Doubles as No. 23 Illinois Beats Detroit Mercy 84-50
Cearah Parchment had 22 points and 11 rebounds and Berry Wallace had 21 points and 11 rebounds as No. 23 Illinois beat Detroit Mercy 84-50 in its season opener on Wednesday night at State Farm Center in Champaign.
Photo: Illinois Athletics. Official roster headshot of Cearah Parchment, forward, Illinois women's basketball, 2026-27 season.
Cearah Parchment had 22 points and 11 rebounds and Berry Wallace had 21 points and 11 rebounds as No. 23 Illinois beat Detroit Mercy 84-50 in its season opener on Wednesday night at State Farm Center in Champaign. They are the first Illinois teammates with 20-point double-doubles in the same game since Feb. 10, 2013, per Illinois Athletics. Illinois led by four at halftime and won the third quarter 27-7.
Parchment shot 9 of 11 from the field and 4 of 6 at the line in 27 minutes, per ESPN's box score. She had a career-high four blocks. Wallace went 8 of 16 with two 3-pointers and five offensive rebounds in 30 minutes. The two scored 43 of Illinois' 84 points, 51.2%, by our count.
Detroit Mercy hangs around
Illinois made its first four shots and went on a 14-0 run to lead 21-6 in the first quarter, per Illinois Athletics. The Titans shot 0 of 7 during that stretch, per Illinois Athletics, then answered with eight straight points to end the quarter. Illinois led 21-14 after one.
Parchment had 12 points at halftime on 6 of 7 shooting, per Illinois Athletics. Her last first-half basket came with 5:05 left in the second quarter. Illinois did not make another field goal before the break, per the AP, and Detroit Mercy closed the half on a 9-2 run to trail 36-32.
Illinois was called for a Flagrant 1 foul at the end of the half after a replay review, per Detroit Mercy Athletics. Stephanie Utomi split the two free throws to open the third quarter, and it was 36-33.
The 27-7 quarter
Illinois made two field goals in the first five minutes of the third quarter, per the AP, but nine free throws pushed the lead to 49-37. Then it closed the quarter on a 19-2 run over the final 6:22, per Illinois Athletics. The last 14 of those points came without a Detroit Mercy answer, per the AP. Wallace scored nine in the run and Destiny Jackson assisted on three of Wallace's baskets, by our count from ESPN's play-by-play. Illinois led 63-39 after three.
Detroit Mercy made three field goals in the third quarter and shot 6 of 24 in the second half, per Illinois Athletics. Illinois outscored the Titans 48-18 after the break. Its largest lead was 35, at 84-49 with 15 seconds left, per the AP.
Team totals, per ESPN's box score:
| Category | Illinois | Detroit Mercy | | --- | --- | --- | | Field goals | 26-57 (45.6%) | 17-55 (30.9%) | | 3-pointers | 5-16 | 5-19 | | Free throws | 27-33 | 11-24 | | Rebounds | 53 | 23 | | Offensive rebounds | 18 | 8 | | Assists | 21 | 5 | | Turnovers | 18 | 12 | | Points in the paint | 38 | 22 | | Fouls | 17 | 27 |
Both teams made five 3-pointers. Illinois made 16 more free throws, by our count, and its 27 makes were its most in a game since 2024, per Illinois Athletics. It won the rebounding battle by 30 and scored 18 second-chance points. It had an assist on 21 of its 26 field goals.
Jackson finished with seven points, five rebounds and nine assists, tying her career high. Gretchen Dolan scored 10 in her first appearance since Feb. 1, and Aaliyah Guyton added nine off the bench, per Illinois Athletics.
Detroit Mercy's scorers
Naima Diawara scored a career-high 11 points for Detroit Mercy, and Paula Lopez added 10, per Detroit Mercy Athletics. Makayla Jackson had eight points and Maya Anderson had seven. Marie Outlay had four steals and has 12 in two games with the Titans.
The context
Illinois has won 10 straight season openers, and Shauna Green is 5-0 in openers at Illinois, per Illinois Athletics. Illinois never trailed and led for the final 39 minutes and 14 seconds. Parchment and Wallace are the first Big Ten teammates with 20-point double-doubles in the same game since March 8, 2025.
Illinois entered the season No. 23 in the AP Top 25. It hosts Southern on Saturday. Detroit Mercy (1-1) plays at Valparaiso on Saturday. The crowd was 4,010.
Sources:
- Illinois Athletics: Second-Half Surge Sends #23/22 Illinois Past Detroit Mercy in Season Opener
- Detroit Mercy Athletics: Titans Have Strong First Half Before Falling at No. 23 Illinois
- Associated Press: Parchment, Wallace lead No. 23 Illinois women to 84-50 win over Detroit Mercy
- ESPN: Detroit Mercy vs. Illinois box score and play-by-play
- NCAA.com: AP Top 25 women's basketball poll
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