Yet it should have been encouraging in equal measure that Illinois was able to withstand a bullish run from Washington (10-5, 1-3) and deliver in other areas to avoid a letdown after its upset of Oregon in Eugene days before.

Kasparas Jakucionis made a tiebreaking layup with 32 seconds left, and No. 22 Illinois survived a furious comeback bid by Washington to squeak out an 81-77 victory Sunday at Alaska Airlines arena.

Illinois guard Jasmine Brown-Hagger (8) and Washington's guard Elle Ladine (24) in a NCAA basketball game at the State Farm Center in Champaign on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. Sports Copy Editor Illinois guard Jasmine Brown-Hagger (8) and Washington's guard Elle Ladine (24) in a NCAA basketball game at the State Farm Center in Champaign on Tuesday,

No. 22 Illinois (10-3, 2-1 Big Ten) is fresh off a Duck domination, in which it took down No. 9 Oregon 109-77 in Eugene on Thursday – the largest margin of victory for a road squad against a top-10 opponent ever.