Box Score (PDF)
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Illinois State women's basketball team was narrowly defeated by Missouri State, 65-60, Friday night in Missouri Valley Conference action inside JQH Arena.
The Redbirds (4-13, 1-5 MVC) were down three and had the ball with a chance to tie on their final possession, but they turned the ball over with 0.6 seconds left. The Lady Bears (8-9, 4-2 MVC) were fouled with 0.3 ticks on the clock and made both of their free throws to seal the victory.
Senior Taylor Stewart set the program record for most 3-pointers in game, as she swished 8-of-11 on her way to a career-high 28 points on a career-best 10 field goals (on 18 attempts). Stewart also grabbed six rebounds, handed out a team-high four assists and recorded two steals. Her eight triples also set the JQH Arena record and was the most ever against Missouri State
Junior Hannah Green tied the program record for most blocks in a game with eight, which included five in the first half. She added eight points, six rebounds and a team-high four assists as well.
Senior Brechelle Beachum added 13 points, with nine coming in the third quarter, and three steals, while sophomore Millie Stevens came off the bench to corral nine rebounds, which tied a career high.
Illinois State jumped out to a 10-8 lead, with Stewart knocking down her first two three-point attempts, before Missouri State led 13-12 at the end of the first quarter.
The Lady Bears scored the first four points of the second quarter, before Stewart's third triple tied the game at 17-17. However, the Redbirds went scoreless over the final 6:52 of the half, and Missouri State tallied the final 10 points to enter halftime leading 27-17.
The Lady Bears increased their lead to 30-17 to start the third quarter, capping a 13-0 run, but Beachum hit a pair of triples on the Redbirds' first two possessions, with the second one starting an 8-0 spurt that moved the visitors to within two at 32-28.
Illinois State then climbed to within three on Beachum's third 3-pointer of the quarter, and the Redbirds still trailed by three, 43-40, after Green knocked down a jumper. But Missouri State scored the final four points of the stanza to enter the final 10 minutes leading 47-40.
The Redbirds made seven of their first eight shots in the third quarter and finished 9-of-15, including 5-of-6 from downtown. The Lady Bears were only 5-of-16, but they finished 8-of-9 from free throw line.
Stewart scored the first five points for Illinois State to start the fourth quarter to bring the Redbirds within two at 47-45, before the Lady Bears rattled off eight in a row to increase their lead back to 10 at 55-45 with 5:36 left in the game.
The Redbirds slowly fought their way back and cut the lead to five on two occasions. After Missouri State made a pair of free throws with 42 seconds remaining, Stewart's record-setting triple sliced the lead to 62-58 with 27 seconds to go.
The Lady Bears missed two more free throws on their next trip, and Beachum made a layup to make it a two-point game. Illinois State sent Missouri State to the line one more time, as Lexi Hughes made the first and missed the second with 16 seconds left. The Redbirds did not have a timeout remaining with their opportunity to tie the game at the end.
Illinois State finished the game shooting 38.3 percent (23-of-60), including a season-high 50 percent from three-point range, as the Redbirds made a season-best 12 3-pointers. Illinois State also dished out a season-high 19 assists (for 23 baskets) and tied a season high in blocks with 10.
The Lady Bears shot 33.8 percent (23-of-68) and just 6-of-22 from behind the arc, but the home team went to the free throw line 20 times and made 13, while the Redbirds went to the free throw line twice all game. Missouri State also won the rebounding battle, 46-37, including a 21-12 advantage on the offensive glass, which led to a 20-9 lead in second-chance points. The Lady Bears also forced 17 turnovers while giving the ball up 13 times, as they outscored the visitors, 16-9 in points off turnovers.
"We played better basketball, and that is what we were aiming for," head coach Barb Smith said. "I am proud of the team, and we have not played this well in a while. We moved the ball better and had a much better start. We played better on the defensive end as well. We started the game going inside offensively. And when you go inside the outside opens up. If we keep playing hard and together, good things happen."
Liza Fruendt led Missouri State with 15 points and six rebounds, while Lexi Hughes added 13 points, four rebounds and three assists. Alexa Willard chipped in 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
Illinois State returns to action this Sunday, Jan. 22, when the Redbirds take on Wichita State at 2 p.m. MVC action inside Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
