Northwestern’s Upset Bid Comes Up Short At No. 25 Illinois, 74-71

Sunday, January 18

Champaign, Ill.

2 p.m. CT

Northwestern

8-11,2-6Big Ten

Illinois

15-4,5-3Big Ten

Northwestern

Illinois

Photo by: George Koukios/Northwestern Athletics

Northwestern’s Upset Bid Comes Up Short At No. 25 Illinois, 74-71

1/18/2026 6:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Sullivan leads ‘Cats with 21 points, Walton adds career-high 19 points

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (January 18, 2026) – Northwestern (8-11, 2-6 B1G) pushed No. 25 Illinois (15-4, 5-3 B1G) to the limit, nearly erasing a 15-point second-half deficit, as the Fighting Illini escaped State Farm Center with a 74-71 victory this afternoon in Champaign, Ill.

How It Happened
Xamiya Walton wasted no time in getting her career day off to a fast start, draining a three on Northwestern's opening possession to give the 'Cats a 3-0 lead. Grace Sullivan picked up her first bucket three minutes in on a hook shot that put Northwestern back in front, 6-5. Following a Caroline Lau trey that tied the game at 11-11, Illinois rattled off six straight as it ultimately held a 21-17 edge at the end of the opening frame.

Northwestern countered with a run of its own, as Sullivan ripped off five unanswered points ahead of a Walton floater that gave the 'Cats a 24-23 lead at the 7:49 mark. Walton stayed hot, with a deep three preceding a Lau layup that prompted a Fighting Illini timeout with Northwestern leading, 31-26, with 5:56 remaining. After another Lau layup made it 33-28, Illinois caught fire, closing the half on a 12-0 run to surge into halftime with a 40-33 advantage.

Finding itself staring at a 15-point deficit late in the third quarter, Northwestern refused to fold, roaring back with a quarter-ending 8-0 run. Triples from Harter and Walton bookended a Sullivan make, as the 'Cats clawed back within seven, 58-51.

Sullivan cracked the 20-point mark with 8:58 to play in regulation, draining a turnaround jumper that cut the gap to five, 60-55. Lau's second three of the day brought the 'Cats within four, 62-58, before a driving score from Walton made it a one-score game, 62-60, at the 7:43 mark. Walton cut the Illinois lead to 64-63 on Northwestern's next trip down the floor, connecting on a corner three. An acrobatic finish by Casey Harter again brought the margin to one, 71-70, with two minutes to play. With the Fighting Illini clinging to a 74-71 lead in the closing seconds, the Wildcats saw their desperation heave miss the mark, as the hosts survived Northwestern's upset bid.

Gallery: (1-18-2026) Women's Basketball at No. 25 Illinois

Inside The Box Score
- Sullivan paced Northwestern on the afternoon, finishing with 21 points (10-22 FGs, 1-1 FTs) and nine rebounds, both of which were team-high marks, in addition to four assists.
- Sullivan now has 13 games of 20 points or more in 2025-26.
- Walton poured in a career-high 19 points (7-11 FGs, 5-8 3FGs), knocking down five attempts from beyond the three-point arc.
- Harter added 13 points (4-8 FGs, 1-3 3FGs, 4-4 FTs), four rebounds, and four assists.
- For the second time this season, Lau played all 40 minutes, contributing 12 points (5-11 FGs, 2-6 3FGs), seven assists, and two steals.
- Berry Wallace led all scorers with 29 points (10-24 FGs, 9-10 FTs) for Illinois.

Up Next
Northwestern will be idle until Sunday, January 25, when it welcomes No. 3 UCLA to Welsh-Ryan Arena for a 3 p.m. CT tip-off on Big Ten Network.