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Stewart's Triple Gives the Redbirds the Lead for Good
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NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's basketball team trailed Evansville, 45-37, with 5:33 remaining in the third quarter, but the Redbirds scored 34 of the final 47 points in the contest to pull away for a 71-58 victory Friday night on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena to start their four-game homestand on a good note while snapping a six-game Missouri Valley Conference losing streak.
Senior Brechelle Beachum scored 12 of her game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter, and fellow classmate Taylor Stewart added 20 points, with 10 coming in each half, on 7-of-12 shooting to lead Illinois State (5-14, 2-6 MVC). Beachum and Stewart also handed out a team-high four assists, and Beachum tied her career high in steals with six. Stewart had five rebounds as well.
Junior Hannah Green chipped in 11 points, six rebounds, two blocks and two steals, while sophomore Millie Stevens came off the bench to lead all rebounders with a career-high 10 caroms. Sophomore Viria Livingston also came off the bench to add a season-high nine points and six boards.
The Redbirds jumped out to an early 6-2 lead, before the Purple Aces (8-11, 3-5 MVC) ran off seven straight to go in front 9-7. After Stewart hit the first of her three triples on the night to slice the deficit to 11-10 at the 2:40 mark of the opening quarter, Evansville tallied the next five to stretch its advantage to 16-10. Stewart then delivered another 3-pointer near the end of the stanza to put the Redbirds down three, 16-13, after 10 minutes.
Green and Livingston scored buckets to start the second quarter, capping a 7-0 run, which allowed Illinois State to retake the lead, 17-16. The Purple Aces responded with four straight, before Green and Stewart both scored to navigate the Redbirds back in front, 21-20.
Evansville regained the momentum by going on an 11-0 run to take its largest lead of the game, 31-21, with 2:10 left before halftime. However, Illinois State tallied the final six points of the quarter, including four from Livingston, to enter the break trailing 31-27.
Green knocked down her career trey ball to start the third quarter, before Beachum delivered an old-fashion three-point play to finish a 14-2 run and produce a 35-33 advantage for the Redbirds at the 8:34 mark.
It was the Purple Aces turn to make another run, as the visitors netted 12 of the next 16 points, including a 9-1 flurry that increased their advantage back out to eight, 45-37.
Illinois State still trailed by seven, 48-41, with 1:59 remaining in the period, but the Redbirds once again closed out a quarter strong by scoring the final seven, with another Beachum three-point play tying the contest at 48-48 heading into the final 10 minutes.
In a game that featured eight ties and eight lead changes, the final two knots and final three lead swaps occurred almost four minutes into the fourth quarter. Evansville took its final lead of the contest, 52-50, before Stewart scored the next five points, including her third 3-pointer of the game, which gave Illinois State the advantage for good, 55-52, with 6:41 to go.
Stewart's scoring started a 14-2 flurry, as Illinois State ended the contest on a 21-6 run, with Beachum tallying 12 of the final 13 points for the Redbirds.
Illinois State shot 51.9 percent (14-of-27) in the second half, including 8-of-13 in the fourth quarter, en route to scoring a season-high 44 points in the second half, the most in any half this season. The Redbirds finished the game shooting 44.6 percent (25-of-56), including 7-of-21 from behind the arc, and made 14-of-22 from the line.
The Illinois State defense recorded a season-high 12 steals and held the Purple Aces to 36.4 percent (20-of-55) shooting, including 21.4 percent (3-of-14) over the final 10 minutes. Evansville did make 7-of-18 from downtown and cashed in on 11-of-14 from the charity stripe.
The Redbirds also won the rebounding battle for the fifth time this season, 38-33, and forced 17 turnovers while turning it over 17 times. Illinois State also dominated points in the paint, 30-20.
Camary Williams paced the Purple Aces with 14 points, six rebounds and four steals, while Sara Dickey added 12 points. Kerri Gasper and Sasha Robinson both finished with 10 points, with Robinson corralling eight rebounds. Brooke Dossett dished out a game-high five assists to go along with six points and six rebounds.
The Redbirds have a quick turnaround when they host Southern Illinois at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, in MVC action on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.
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