NORMAL, Ill.  – The Illinois State women's basketball team made a furious comeback, but ultimately came up short in a 59-52 loss to Northern Iowa Friday night inside of Redbird Arena. The Redbirds overcame a 14-point deficit late in the second half, but a 9-0 run over the final two minutes of the game by the Panthers proved to be the difference in the contest.
Octavia Crump led the Redbirds with 22 points, tying a career high, while bringing down seven rebounds and collecting two blocks. Mary Sims was the next highest scorer for ISU with nine points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals in the Missouri Valley Conference game.
ISU (1-20, 1-9 MVC) shot 31 percent from the field and 33 percent from beyond the arc, while UNI (12-9, 8-2 MVC) found the bottom of the net on 42 percent of its shot attempts. The Redbirds grabbed 40 rebounds and scored eight second-chance points, but UNI had a slight advantage on the boards, grabbing 41.
ISU jumped out to a quick five-point lead, thanks to a layup and perfect assist from Crump, as UNI opened the game with a three-minute scoring drought. Then, the Panthers used a 9-0 run to take a two-point lead, but the Redbirds found their rhythm, as the two teams were tied, 15-15, at the 10-minute mark.
Crump scored five-straight points for the Redbirds, as the two teams continued to exchange points late in the first half. The Redbirds took a one-point lead, 23-22, but the Panthers ended the half on an 8-2 run, while ISU was scoreless the final 2:37 of the first half.
At the half, Crump led ISU with eight points and five rebounds, as well as two blocks. Sims added five points, while Colleene Smith grabbed six boards, including two offensive rebounds. Illinois State recorded six steals in the opening half. The Panthers shot 41 percent from the field, while the Redbirds connected on 29 percent of their field goal attempts. UNI had a slight advantage on the boards, pulling down 23 rebounds, three more than ISU.
UNI outscored ISU 14-7 early in the second half, as the Panthers took a 14-point lead, 46-32, at the 10:33 mark. The strong offensive performance was followed by scoring droughts by both teams, as they were a combined 4-of-17 from the field.
Crump led the Redbirds' late offensive attack, as ISU used an 18-2 run to take a lead, 50-48, with 2:16 left in the game. The run lasted nearly eight minutes, while 13 points came from Crump during the run, including 11-straight. UNI used a three and six-straight free throws to regain the lead and secure the win, 59-52, thanks to the 9-0 run to end the game.
ISU returns to Doug Collins Court Sunday for the fifth-annual Play4Kay game against Drake. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:05 p.m., and admission is $1.
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