Scoring Droughts Down Women's Hoops, 85-38

WICHITA, Kan.  – Katy Winge led the Illinois State women's basketball team with nine points against Wichita State Friday at Charles Koch Arena, but several scoring droughts by the Redbirds and hot shooting by the Shockers was too much for ISU to overcome, as it fell, 85-38.

Kelli Tolar scored a career-high six points, while Stekara Hall added five points in the game. The Redbirds (0-17, 0-6 MVC) shot 26 percent from the field, while the Shockers (15-3, 6-0 MVC) sank 51 percent of their shot attempts with four players in double figures. Wichita State had the advantage on the boards, as it grabbed 43, compared to Illinois State's 33 boards.

"We are struggling so much to score, and we need to be stronger offensively," head coach Barb Smith said. "We missed easy layups and couldn't finish. We needed to settle down in the second half, but we just have to keep working at it. Wichita State has so much leadership and composure. You have to give credit to them. They were all over the place and played hard."

Winge scored ISU's first two field goals of the game, but the Redbirds were scoreless from the field for the next seven minutes, going 0-of-10 during the drought. During the scoreless period, WSU used a 9-0 run to take a 19-6 advantage at the 12:08 mark. Then, Hall drained a three to end the drought and gave an offensive spark back to the Redbirds.

The two teams traded baskets in the middle of the half, as ISU pulled within 10 points, 27-17, but the Shockers regained momentum and used threes to take a 20-point lead, 41-21, heading into the locker room. The 20-point lead by Wichita State was the largest of the half, as Illinois State was scoreless the last 3:32 of the half.

In the first half, ISU was led by Winge, who scored six points, followed by Hall and Colleene Smith with five and four points, respectively. Mackenzie Freeman led the Redbirds on the boards with three, while Mary Sims and Smith both pulled down two rebounds. Wichita State had a slight advantage on the boards, grabbing 19, while Illinois State collected 17 rebounds. The Shockers connected on 50 percent of their shot attempts, while the Redbirds made 31 percent of their attempts from the field.  

The Redbirds couldn't connect from the field for the first three minutes of the second half, as the Shockers scored nine-straight points, taking a 49-21 advantage. Winge ended the scoring drought with a three, but an 11-0 run over six minutes gave WSU a 60-24 advantage with 12:29 left to play.

Despite back-to-back field goals by ISU, WSU scored eight-straight points to take a 68-28 point advantage at the 7:23 mark of the second half. Wichita State would go on another 9-0 run, increasing its lead to 77-32. Illinois State wasn't able to find a rhythm in the second half, as it fell, 85-38.

The Redbirds return to action Sunday, as they take on Missouri State at 2:05 p.m., in Springfield, Missouri.

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