CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a staggering free throw disparity and a relentless individual performance, the Illinois women’s basketball team narrowly avoided a monumental upset, edging Northwestern 74-71 in a Big Ten Conference thriller on Sunday at State Farm Center.

The Fighting Illini, heavy favorites entering the contest, needed every one of their 19 made free throws on 22 attempts to hold off a Wildcats squad that attempted only nine foul shots, making seven. The 12-point margin at the line proved decisive in a game separated by just three points.

Illinois star Berry Wallace, a 6-foot-1 guard from Pickerington, Ohio, was the engine for the home team, pouring in a game-high 29 points while adding nine rebounds and three assists in 40 minutes. Her aggression consistently drew fouls, as she went 9 for 10 from the charity stripe. Her driving layup with 1:53 remaining gave Illinois a 73-71 lead it would not relinquish.

Northwestern, which fell to 8-11 overall, was led by a heroic effort from Grace Sullivan. The 6-foot-4 forward from Antioch, Illinois, played 39 minutes and countered with 21 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Backcourt mate Xamiya Walton, a Chicago native, added 19 points, including five three-pointers.

The game’s most critical sequence unfolded in the final ten seconds. With Illinois clinging to a 73-71 lead, Northwestern’ Tayla Thomas was fouled and sent to the line for two shots with 1:28 to play. She missed the first and made the second, trimming the deficit to one. On the ensuing Illinois possession, Wallace missed a jumper, but Lety Vasconcelos secured a crucial offensive rebound. Her put-back attempt missed, and Northwestern’s Casey Harter grabbed the defensive board with 57 seconds left.

The Wildcats called a timeout to set up a play for the lead. Out of the break, Sullivan missed a jumper. Illinois’ Wallace secured the rebound, and the Illini called timeout with 49 seconds remaining. Following another Northwestern timeout, the Wildcats forced a turnover, giving themselves a chance to win or tie on the final possession.

With nine seconds left, Northwestern’s Thomas was called for a foul on Illinois’ Cearah Parchment, sending the Whitby, Canada native to the line. Parchment, who had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, missed the first free throw but calmly sank the second to push the lead to 74-71.

Northwestern had one final look. Caroline Lau, who had 12 points and seven assists, launched a potential game-tying three-pointer as time expired, but it missed off the rim, sealing the Illini victory.

The game was a tale of contrasting efficiencies. Illinois struggled from the field, shooting just 37.9% overall and 27.8% from three-point range. However, their work on the offensive glass was dominant, grabbing 18 offensive rebounds leading to 19 second-chance points. Northwestern shot a better percentage at 45.2% from the field and 40% from deep, but their five total assists and 18 fewer free throw attempts underscored a one-on-one offensive approach that ultimately came up short.

Illinois improved to 15-4 with the win, though it was far from the comfortable victory predicted. The Illini entered as 20.5-point favorites according to the pregame spread, and statistical models gave them a 96.8% probability of winning. Northwestern’s gritty performance, coming off a win over Wisconsin, signaled a team finding its competitive footing in conference play.

For Illinois, the victory was a testament to resilience and capitalizing on opportunities. Beyond Wallace and Parchment, Aaliyah Guyton contributed 13 points, while the 6-foot-7 Vasconcelos provided a key interior presence off the bench with eight points, five rebounds and two blocks in just 13 minutes.

Northwestern’s Harter finished with 13 points and four assists, while Thomas added six points and eight rebounds. The Wildcats’ ball security was impressive, committing only five turnovers, but they were ultimately undone by Illinois’ ability to get to the foul line and control the boards.

The game’s total of 145 points went under the betting over/under line of 140.5. An announced crowd of 5,068 watched the tense conference matchup.

Illinois next travels to face Nebraska on Saturday. Northwestern returns home to host UCLA next Sunday. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Evanston on Feb. 22.