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Stewart's Program-Tying Three-Pointer | Stevens Scores on the Fastbreak
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NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's basketball team used a complete team effort to produce its best three-game start in six years, as the Redbirds (2-1) took care of business with a 77-56 victory over Valparaiso (1-2) Saturday on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.
Three players scored in double-figures, with senior Taylor Stewart pouring in a career-high 24 points. She knocked down 7-of-12 from three-point range, which tied the program record for most triples in a game, and finished the game 7-of-14 from the floor to tie a career high in made field goals. Stewart also grabbed five boards and handed out three assists.
Junior Hannah Green and sophomore Millie Stevens both added 15 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Green's point and rebound total were season bests, as the first-year Redbird also recorded a season-high four steals. She also held Dani Franklin, Valpo's leading scorer, to only seven points on 2-of-8 shooting, 18.5 points below her season average. Stevens tied her career highs in rebounds and made free throws, as she went to the free throw line a career-best seven times and made five.
Senior Brechelle Beachum came off the bench to chip in nine points and a season-high three steals, while sophomore Viria Livingston stuffed the stat sheet with five points, a season-high seven rebounds, a career-best six assists and two steals. She also set the tone on defense with her ball pressure. Sophomore Katrina Beck tallied a career-high four steals, a season-high four assists to tie a career best and six points.
Illinois State trailed 10-5 nearly four minutes through the first quarter, before a jumper from Green and Stewart's second three knotted the game at 10-10. Valpo responded with six-straight points to take its largest lead, but the Redbirds closed out the opening frame with the final five points to trail 16-15 after the first 10 minutes.
Green knocked down a jumper on Illinois State's first possession of the second quarter and gave the Redbirds the lead for good. Illinois State tallied the first seven points of the stanza, with a Stewart trey ball capping a 12-0 run for a 22-16 advantage at the eight-minute mark.
The run eventually turned into 17-3 spurt and a 21-5 run, after Stewart knocked down a pair from the charity stripe, which increased the lead to 31-21 with 4:59 remaining before the half.
The Crusaders answered with six of the next eight points to force head coach Barb Smith to call a 30-second time out. The timeout worked and the Redbirds closed out the half on a 10-2 flurry to go into the break leading 43-29.
Illinois State shot 58.8 percent (10-of-17) in the second quarter, forced Valpo into seven turnovers, outscoring the Crusaders 12-2 in points off turnovers in the period and 20-2 in the half, after producing a total of 14 first-half miscues. The Redbirds also outscored the Crusaders 28-13 over the second 10 minutes.
Another triple from Stewart at the 7:55 mark of the third quarter stretched the lead out to 17 at 48-31 and capped a 15-4 run, after the Smith timeout in the second quarter. Valpo crept back to within 48-37 with six unanswered points, but Illinois State answered right back with six of its own with a three-point play from Stevens and a bucket from downtown by Stewart.
The six unanswered points eventually turned into a 12 out of 13 and 18 out of 21, as Stewart's sixth and seventh threes of the game gave the Redbirds their largest lead of the contest, 66-40, with 7:25 left in the game.
Illinois State's defense was on point throughout the contest. The Redbirds forced the Crusaders into 30 turnovers thanks to a season-high 18 steals, as they held a commanding 27-8 advantage in points off turnovers. The defense also held Valpo to only 37.2 percent (16-of-43) shooting, including 4-of-14 from downtown.
Offensively, Illinois State shot 35.1 percent (26-of-74) but made 10-of-28 from behind the arc. The Redbirds also dished out a season-best 17 assists and won the rebounding battle for the first time, 43-39, including a commanding 20-7 lead on the offensive glass, which allowed Illinois State to hold a 16-4 advantage in second-chance points. Also, the Redbirds took much better care of the basketball and only turned it over a season-low 12 times.
Caitlin Morrison, Meredith Hamlet and Addison Stoller all scored nine points to lead the Crusaders in scoring, and Franklin, Amber Lindfors, who added eight points, and Stoller all grabbed seven boards. Hamlet also handed out a team-high four assists.
Illinois State returns to action this Tuesday, Nov. 22 when the Redbirds welcome Yale to Redbird Arena, with tipoff slated for 7 p.m.
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