Champaign, IL -- (Sports Network) - Juice Williams threw a touchdown pass and ran for a pair of scores to lead 20th-ranked Illinois to a 41-22 win over Northwestern in a Big Ten matchup at Memorial Stadium.

Williams carried the ball 23 times for 136 yards and completed 15-of-23 passes for 220 yards, as Illinois (9-3, 6-2 Big Ten) ended the regular season with four straight wins, including an upset of then-No. 1 Ohio State last Saturday.

Jeff Cumberland hauled in four passes for 131 yards and a touchdown, while Rashard Mendenhall ran the ball 27 times for 124 yards and two scores. The bowl-bound Illini ended a four-game losing streak to Northwestern and posted the most wins in a season since the 2001 squad had 10 victories en route to a Big Ten title.

"We came out strong at the start of the game and then kept our composure after the half to keep control of the game," said Illinois coach Ron Zook. "We knew that Northwestern is a good team and we showed we can bounce back after a big win today."

C.J. Bacher was 29-of-49 for 310 yards with three TD passes and a pair of interceptions for Northwestern (6-6, 3-5 Big Ten), which became bowl eligible after its triumph over Indiana last weekend. Tyrell Sutton had 71 yards and a score on 13 touches, as the Wildcats dropped three of their last four games of the regular season.

An interception by Illini defensive back Kevin Mitchell eventually led to a three-yard touchdown run by Mendenhall at 10:36 of the first quarter. The score capped an eight-play, 71-yard drive and gave Illinois a 7-0 lead.

Williams one-yard touchdown run on third down pushed the Illini lead to 14-0 with 5:38 remaining in the opening period.

Another one-yard touchdown run by Williams made it 21-0 with 4:12 left to go in the first half. Illinois marched 97 yards in 16 plays culminated by Williams' short run from the goal line.

Northwestern finally cracked the scoring column with 2:35 left in the second quarter, as Sutton scored from a yard out to make it 21-7. The touchdown ended a six-play, 56-yard march.

Illinois then carried a lead into halftime for the ninth time in 12 games this season.

Cumberland's 42-yard touchdown on a catch-and-run staked the Illini to a 28-7 advantage at 12:52 of the third quarter. Cumberland also hauled in a 31-yard pass from Williams during the opening drive of the second half.

Mendenhall's eight-yard touchdown run with 5:23 to go in the third quarter made it 35-7. The score capped a lengthy 14-play, 94-yard drive which ate up more than six minutes off the clock.

Bacher's two-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Yarbrough pulled the Wildcats within 35-14 with 2:10 on the clock in the third quarter. Sutton ran for 47 yards to aid the 11-play, 87-yard drive.

Jason Reda booted a 27-yard field goal with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game, extending the Illinois lead to 38-14.

Northwestern kept the pressure on after Bacher's 18-yard touchdown pass to Kim Thompson. The two-point conversion pass was caught by Rodd Lane with 6:15 on the clock for a 38-22 score. The Wildcats then tried an onsides kick, but Illinois recovered the football.

Reda nailed a 49-yard field goal with 4:37 left to complete the scoring.

"We didn't tackle very well," said Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald. "We got away from who we are and the way we practiced all week. Credit the Illini. They played extremely well. We had opportunities to get the job done, but we didn't. Put that on the coaches. They didn't do anything new today. They didn't do anything we hadn't prepared for. As a coach, that's my job."

Game Notes:

With the win, Illinois captured the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk Trophy...Williams was picked off once...Sutton also caught seven passes for 68 yards...The Illini went 5-1 at Memorial Stadium this season, the most wins at home since the 2001 team went 6-0 as the host...Mendenhall had a school-record 16 rushing touchdowns this season...Illinois is headed to a bowl game for the first time since 2001...Northwestern entered Saturday's game with the Big Ten's No. 1 passing attack, while the Illini sported the conference's top rushing team...The Illini lead the all-time series with Northwestern by a 52-44-5 margin. The Wildcats, though, are 8-5 in the series since the 1995 season...These two teams have played each other every year since the 1927 campaign.