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NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's basketball team played its Play4Kay game Friday night in front of a season-high crowd of 1,120 on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena, but visiting Indiana State dominated from the start to cruise to a 65-47 victory in Missouri Valley Conference action.
The Redbirds (5-16, 2-8 MVC) were down 4-0 to start the contest, before scoring five straight to lead the Sycamores (11-10, 5-5 MVC), 5-4, with 4:43 remaining in the opening quarter. However, Indiana State proceeded to tally the next seven points to start a 15-4 run to take a 19-7 advantage, before leading 19-8 after the first 10 minutes.
The Sycamores shot 50 percent (8-of-16) in the first quarter and took advantage of Illinois State's poor shooting, as the Redbirds connected on 2-of-14 from the floor.
Illinois State fought back in the second quarter and eventually trimmed the lead to 25-19 when senior Taylor Stewart drilled a triple from the top of the key with 3:33 to go before halftime. But Indiana State answered with an 8-2 spurt to stretch its lead back out to 12, before leading at the break, 33-22.
The visitors started the third quarter on a 7-0 flurry to increase its lead out to 19. The advantage then ballooned to 24, as the Sycamores led 56-32 after 30 minutes. Indiana State outscored the Redbirds in the stanza, 23-10, thanks to 58.8 percent shooting (10-of-17), while Illinois State was just 3-of-12 (25 percent).
The Redbirds did not quit in the fourth quarter and whittled the deficit down to 14. Illinois State outscored the Sycamores, 15-9, over the final 10 minutes, as the Redbirds shot 45.5 percent (5-of-11) and held Indiana State to 16.7 percent (2-of-12).
Stewart was the lone Redbird to reach double figures in scoring, as she netted 10 points to go along with four rebounds. Sophomore Millie Stevens continued her strong play off the bench and just missed a double-double with nine points and a team-high nine rebounds, while fellow classmate Katrina Beck added eight points.
Senior Brechelle Beachum chipped in seven points, five rebounds, a team-best three assists and two steals, while sophomore Viria Livingston recorded a season-high three steals and three assists as well.
Illinois State finished the contest shooting 30.6 percent (15-of-49) and made only 2-of-13 from behind the arc. The Sycamores shot 42.6 percent (26-of-61) but 1-of-13 from distance. The Redbirds also went to the free throw line six more times but made only 15-of-24 (62.5 percent), while Indiana State was 12-of-18 (66.7 percent).
Indiana State used its size all night to lead in points in the paint, 42-24, and on the glass, 47-31. Both teams turned it over 16 times, but the Sycamores used a 22-13 advantage in points off turnovers aided by 12 steals.
Wendi Bibbins paced Indiana State with a double-double of 23 points and 13 rebounds to go along with two steals, as she shot 10-of-18 from the field. Rhagen Smith added 13 points and four caroms for the Sycamores.
Illinois State returns to action Sunday, Feb. 5, when it concludes its four-game conference homestand against Loyola Chicago, with tipoff slated for 1 p.m. on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.
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