Illini Advance: Shoup-Hill’s Timely Threes Spark Tournament Win
AUSTIN, Texas – In a moment that epitomized resilience and unwavering confidence, Brynn Shoup-Hill etched her name into Illinois basketball lore. With the weight of a program’s 24-year NCAA Tournament drought on their shoulders, the Illini found themselves clinging to a precarious lead against a tenacious Creighton team. The Bluejays, threatening to seize momentum, had just whittled the margin to a mere two points, casting a shadow of doubt over Illinois’ chances. But then, Shoup-Hill stepped into the corner, received a pass from Genesis Bryant, and unleashed a shot that would alter the course of the game.
Head coach Shauna Green, a longtime admirer of Shoup-Hill’s abilities, recognized the confidence radiating from her senior forward. As the ball soared through the air, it was evident that Shoup-Hill was not merely taking a shot; she was making a statement. The ball swished through the net, extending Illinois’ lead to five and silencing Creighton’s rally. But Shoup-Hill wasn’t finished. On the ensuing possession, she found herself in the same corner, receiving another pass from Bryant. Without hesitation, she launched another three-pointer, sending the crowd into a frenzy and pushing the lead to eight. Those two shots, delivered with precision and poise, proved to be the turning point in Illinois’ 66-57 victory, marking their first NCAA Tournament win since 2000.
“I was just open, so I shot it,” Shoup-Hill said with characteristic humility. “It came off my hand really naturally. I’ve been struggling the past couple games shooting-wise, and I feel like I always stayed ready. That was a product of that. That was really all that was going through my mind. I was like, ‘Oh, open twice. Same spot.’ It was perfect.” Shoup-Hill’s performance extended beyond those crucial three-pointers. She finished the game with nine points, including a pivotal and-one play in the second quarter that ended a five-minute scoring drought. She also contributed two rebounds and a block, showcasing her versatility and importance to the team.
Brynn Shoup-Hill: The Glue That Holds Illinois Together
Adalia McKenzie, Shoup-Hill’s teammate, aptly described her as “the glue” of the team. “She shows up. She is a defensive force and also she’s a shooter,” McKenzie emphasized. “We know she can shoot threes. That’s her strength. For her to just be confident and shoot those threes was relieving. I could breathe when she did that. I’m proud of her. That’s something we always knew was in her. This is the right time to have everything that’s in her come out. She really showed that tonight.” Those timely 3-pointers were critical when Creighton offense was at their best, and the Bluejays were rallying to cut into Illinois’ lead and steal the momentum.
Despite the magnitude of the moment, Shoup-Hill remained composed, focused on the task at hand. “We always talk about not getting too high,” she explained. “I was like, ‘Let me celebrate for a second and then get back to the game.’ We still had a lot of time left. I was so happy, but I did kind of move on to the next play.” It was only the second time this season that Shoup-Hill had made multiple 3-pointers in a game, underscoring the significance of her performance. Prior to the game, she had only converted two of her last eight 3-point attempts in the previous six games, making her timely accuracy all the more remarkable.
Coach Green echoed McKenzie’s sentiments, recognizing the impact of Shoup-Hill’s performance. “Those were huge,” Green said. “I mean, absolutely huge, and in a time we weren’t really in a good flow offensively. To see her shoot it, it was right in front of our bench, to see her shoot it and the confidence. I mean, I know her by now. I’ve been around her a long time. She shot that thing and didn’t even think about it. It went in and I saw the next one coming. Again, let it fly. She had a little head check, but I love that other three. She missed it, but it was a great shot.
Green added, “I’m really proud of her. I’m really happy for her. She was really frustrated, and I think disappointed after that Nebraska game. She had a really good two weeks of practice.” Kendall Bostic further emphasized Shoup-Hill’s importance to the team. “We hadn’t scored in a while and she hit ’em back to back. It’s huge for us, especially with her. When she’s her most confident self she makes us so much better. A lot of people say Dal is the x-factor, which she is, but Brynn’s also a huge x-factor. Her rebounding, her offensive crashing the glass, her defensive ability on usually the four players, which are sometimes the other team’s best players, she handles that day in and day out. For her to be confident and take both of those and make ’em is huge for us.”
Freshman Berry Wallace Seals the Deal
Berry Wallace, the first five-star prospect to embrace Green’s vision for Illinois, showcased her potential in a pivotal moment during the fourth quarter. Despite being a freshman, Wallace has quickly become an integral part of the team, playing significant minutes and contributing in various ways. In the closing stages of the game against Creighton, Wallace demonstrated the poise and skill of a seasoned veteran.
With just over two minutes remaining, Creighton had narrowed the lead to four points, putting pressure on Illinois to close out the game. Bryant, typically automatic from the free-throw line, uncharacteristically missed both attempts. However, Wallace alertly grabbed the offensive rebound on the second miss, powered through traffic, and converted a layup to extend the lead to six with 1:39 left on the clock. That play proved vital, giving the Illini a cushion and momentum heading into the final moments.
“It ended up being she missed it in the exact same way as the first one, just coming off the front of the rim,” Wallace explained. “Just looking at the girl next to me she was almost not really ready. Maybe she assumed Gen was going to make it. I don’t know. Just noticing they’re not ready or if your defender is tired or something. Just noticing things like that. I think you can take advantage of that.” When asked about navigating through traffic to make the shot, Wallace emphasized the importance of patience.
“I think just patience,” Wallace said. “That was big for a lot of us in the game too. We were around the rim and they were doubling down a lot on us because there were mismatches, obviously, because we were bigger than them. Just take your time, work your feet and finishing a layup that you always finish.” Wallace finished the game with 11 points and five rebounds, but her offensive rebound and putback late in the game stood out as the most impactful play. Despite being surrounded by experienced seniors, Wallace stepped up and delivered a crucial basket when her team needed it most. Bryant, grateful for Wallace’s contribution, acknowledged the freshman’s impact on the team.
“I did miss those two free throws. I was trying not to relive that moment,” Bryant said. “But it was amazing just for her to be a freshman, to have the poise to get in there and then finish because she had two people to get it over. She’s been making plays like that all year. She’s a freshman, but we don’t treat her as a freshman. Even Coach Green said, ‘You’re not a freshman anymore.’ I think she’s just rising above the level that we set for her, and I just can’t wait to see what she does the rest of this year but also in her years to come.” Green echoed Bryant’s praise, highlighting Wallace’s overall performance.
“She made so many big plays. We ran a lot of stuff to her. She missed some shots but they were all great shots. …That rebound was huge. Gen never misses. I’m surprised Berry and KB were even (in position). You’re just so used to ’em going in. We’ve been talking about rebounding with all these guys. Free throws and offensive rebounds were a big emphasis coming into this game. For her to have the aggressiveness, the mindset to go get it and to finish the play? That was a big-time play.”
Overcoming Adversity: Illinois Closes Out Tournament Win
Illinois’ journey to the NCAA Tournament was not without its challenges. The team entered the tournament on a four-game losing streak, plagued by fourth-quarter collapses in their final two losses against Michigan and Nebraska. In those games, the Illini struggled to maintain their leads, allowing their opponents to outscore them in the crucial final quarter.
However, against Creighton, Illinois demonstrated a newfound resolve, holding on to secure the victory. “Two weeks off does a lot for people mentally and physically,” Bostic said. “I think we were so ready to play somebody. Those losses shouldn’t have happened. The UCLA and USC ones were close, but Michigan and Nebraska hurt. We just didn’t want that feeling. This is the highest stakes possible. This is if you lose you’re done, especially for us five seniors. Like, you’re done done. We were more poised.”
During the 16-day break between games, Illinois focused on addressing their late-game struggles. The senior leadership of the team recognized the reasons behind their previous defeats. They acknowledged the impact of fatigue and the importance of maintaining fundamental principles. They recommitted to the basics and worked to regain their composure in pressure situations. Perhaps most importantly, the seniors were determined to avoid ending their careers on a similar note.
Green emphasized the importance of finishing games during practice, simulating pressure-packed scenarios to prepare her team for the challenges ahead. “I knew this game was going to come down to the fourth quarter,” Green said. “I thought it would come down to the last battle, the last five minutes. You know I talk all the time, we work our fourth quarters, our last battle every single day in practice with a scrimmage, and I give them different scenarios. We lost our last two games, and we lost them because of our last five-minute battle, and we were not going to lose that. Everything we’ve been talking about for this break has been about finishing and learning from our mistakes in the Nebraska and the Michigan game.
She went on to add “Even in the timeout, I kept telling them when it was under five minutes left, I’m like, we just did this yesterday in practice. I had us up five with four minutes left yesterday, and we talked about just doing what we do every day and just really proud because we did what we did tonight in the last battle, what we’ve been doing, and when we went on that eight-game winning streak. We made plays when we had to. We made stops when we had to. Every single person did their job, and we finished.” The Illini’s victory over Creighton was a testament to their resilience, determination, and commitment to finishing strong. With key contributions from Shoup-Hill, Wallace, and the entire team, Illinois secured a long-awaited NCAA Tournament win and proved that they are a force to be reckoned with.
