Jan. 12, 2014
Final Stats
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -
Chloe Nelson led all scorers with 14 points, but her efforts weren't enough as the Illinois State (2-11, 1-2 MVC) women's basketball team fell to Indiana State (8-6, 3-0 MVC) by three points, 47-44, Sunday afternoon at Hulman Center in its first Missouri Valley Conference road game of the season. Nelson had nine points in the opening half of the game.
Lindsay Smith scored 10 points for her second-straight game with a double-digit scoring performance, while eight players scored in the game. The field goal percentage for both teams was similar, as the Redbirds connected on 37 percent of their shot attempts, and the Sycamores made 38 percent of their shots. Smith also led the Redbirds on the boards, as she pulled down a career-high six rebounds. Octavia Crump, Kalyn Gebhardt and Alison Seberger each grabbed five boards. Indiana State had the advantage on the boards, pulling down 34 compared to Illinois State's 28.
In the middle of the first half, Illinois State went on a 7-0 run. Stekara Hall had four-straight points in the run followed by a three from Smith in the corner, giving the Redbirds its first lead of the game, 13-11, with 8:32 to play in the opening half. During the Redbird run, the Sycamores were scoreless for nearly six minutes thanks to strong defense and a press.
Indiana State regained the momentum, as Illinois State was scoreless for nearly four minutes. An off-balanced three by Smith gave the advantage back to the Redbirds, 18-16, with just over two minutes to play in the opening half. Then, the Sycamores answered with seven-straight points, but back-to-back threes by Nelson, including one at the buzzer, gave Illinois State a one-point lead, 24-23, at the break.
At the half, Nelson led all scorers with nine points, shooting 50 percent from the field and was perfect beyond the three-point line. Smith added six points and led Illinois State on the boards with three rebounds. Illinois State had 10 rebounds, while Indiana State had 14. The Redbirds connected on 44 percent of their shot attempts, while the Sycamores netted 46 percent of their shots.
The Sycamores opened the second half with a 6-0 run, but the Redbirds respond with a 6-0 run of their own, as Nelson scored three-straight points during the run, 32-30, giving the lead back to Illinois State with 14:15 to play. A layup by Seberger ended a nearly five-minute scoreless period for Illinois State, 36-34, at the 9:24 mark.
Illinois State got within two points thanks to a 7-2 run, and later cut Indiana State's lead to one, 45-44, with just over a minute to play. The Sycamores got a layup, but the Redbirds couldn't get the last-second three to tie the game and fell, 47-44.
Illinois State continues its three-game road swing Friday at Southern Illinois. Tip is scheduled for 6 p.m., in Carbondale, Ill. Then, ISU will take on Evansville Sunday at 2:05 p.m.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
