Box Score (PDF)
CHICAGO – Seniors Taylor Stewart and Brechelle Beachum each recorded career highs in scoring, as the Illinois State women's basketball team came up with big defensive stops down the stretch to top UIC, 59-52, inside the UIC Pavilion.
The Redbirds (1-1) led most of the way and saw their once 12-point lead evaporate down to two when the Flames' (1-1) Catera Etheridge made UIC's first three-pointer of the game, which trimmed the Illinois State advantage to 51-49 with 6:59 remaining.
Neither team scored over the next two minutes, but Stewart scored on an acrobatic layup to give the Redbirds some breathing room and end the scoring drought. After the Flames scored on their next possession, Beachum drilled a jumper to once again make it a two-possession game.
UIC got to within three on a free throw with 2:03 left, but Illinois State made 4-of-6 of its own free throws down the stretch and held the Flames scoreless the rest of the way to clinch the victory.
Stewart scored 19 points, with 14 coming in the first half, and knocked down a career-best four three's. She also knocked down a career-high seven field goals (on 15 attempts), tied a career high in steals with four, grabbed three rebounds and dished out three assists to share team-high honors with sophomores Katrina Beck and Viria Livingston.
Beachum came off the bench to score her 15 points, as she made a career-high five field goals, including two from downtown to tie a career best, while adding two steals.
"I thought we had a great team effort tonight," head coach Barb Smith said. "I thought Taylor Stewart and Brechelle Beachum played like seniors."
The Redbirds started the game in a 6-2 hole, but Livingston's three and a basket from junior Hannah Green produced an early 7-6 lead. The lead inched out to three, as a layup from Beachum capped a 9-2 spurt at the 4:11 mark.
UIC regrouped and regained the lead, 15-14, but it would be the Flames' last lead of the game. Stewart swished her first three of the night and scored six-straight points for Illinois State. The long ball from Stewart started a 22-8 run for the Redbirds, which was capped by a steal and layup from Beachum with 2:19 left before halftime, as Illinois State took its largest lead of the game, 33-21.
But the Redbirds went cold the rest of the half, and UIC tallied the final seven points to cut the Illinois State lead to 33-28 at the break.
A quick 7-2 run to start the third quarter stretched the lead back out to 10 at 40-30 when Stewart recorded a steal and drilled a quick three. The Flames responded with the next seven points, but Stewart found Beachum for another three to end the spurt. Both teams scored 13 points in the third stanza, and the Redbirds led 46-41 after 30 minutes.
UIC scored the first five points of the fourth quarter, which deadlocked the contest at 46-46, and was the first tie since it was 13-13 near the end of the first quarter. Livingston broke the tie with a layup, and Beachum followed with a huge triple to move Illinois State back in front by five at 51-46 and for good.
The Redbirds shot only 33.9 percent (20-of-59) from the field, including 8-of-26 from behind the arc. They also went 7-of-11 from the free throw line and lost the rebounding battle, 54-33. Illinois State also assisted on 13 of its 20 field goals and cut down on its turnovers with only 18.
Defensively, the Redbirds forced 21 turnovers, with 10 coming from steals, and swatted six shots. They held UIC to 32.2 percent shooting (19-of-59) and only 2-of-14 from distance, with both three's coming in the final 10 minutes. The Flames also hurt themselves at the free throw line, making only 12-of-25.
Livingston and freshman Megan Talbot both grabbed six rebounds to lead Illinois State on the glass, while Green added three blocks and two steals on the defensive end.
"We had great minutes from Deja Turner and Frannie Corrigan off the bench," Smith said. "We have a lot of things to get better at, but I loved our effort tonight."
The Redbirds return to action this Saturday, Nov. 19 when they host another Horizon League foe, Valparaiso, on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena at 1 p.m. in the season's home opener.
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