CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Cearah Parchment had 22 points, Berry Wallace scored 21 and both players registered double-doubles for No. 23 Illinois in a season-opening 84-50 victory over Detroit Mercy on Wednesday night.
Parchment and Wallace, Illinois’ postseason award candidates, had 11 rebounds each. Gretchen Dolan added 10 points.
Naima Diawara scored 11 points and Paula Lopez 10 for Detroit Mercy (1-1).
A 14-0 run helped Illinois jump out to a 21-6 lead in the first quarter before Detroit Mercy closed to within 21-14 heading to the second period. The Titans held the Illini without a field goal for the last five minutes of the half and a closing 9-2 run got them within 36-32 at halftime.
The Illini made only two more field goals in the first five minutes of the third quarter, but nine made free throws helped them extend the lead to 49-37. A 14-0 run over the final five minutes wrapped up a third quarter in which the Illini outscored the Titans 27-7.
The Illini’s largest lead in the fourth quarter was 84-49 with 15 seconds remaining.
Illinois: vs. Southern on Saturday.
Detroit Mercy: at Valparaiso on Saturday. ____ Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP’s full college basketball coverage here.
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