CLEVELAND, Ohio. – Despite the strong offensive effort by a quartet of Redbirds, Illinois State women's basketball dropped to Cleveland State in a back-and-forth battle fashion.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Katrina Beck attacked the rim just seconds before the clock expired to put the 'Birds on the board early in the first. Cleveland State's Jade Ely responded quickly with a jumper to tie it up 2-2. Simone Goods added three buckets in a row for the Redbirds and would finish the first quarter as the leading scorer with eight points. CSU remained in the game and the two were tied 12-12 as they entered the second.
Illinois State opened the second period on a 6-0 run with shots coming from Lexy Koudelka and TeTe Maggett. The Vikings battled back as Mariah Miller added two to tighten the gap to four. Goods responded with her 10th point to add yet another double digit showing to her resume and Illinois State remained ahead 20-14. With less than two minutes remaining the Vikings tied the game for the first time in the second quarter at 24-24. Savanna Crockett went two-for-two at the line to also take CSU's first lead of the second, 26-24. The resilient Redbirds finished the half strong as Goods added one at the free-throw line and Maggett drove to the basket with two seconds remaining in regulation. Illinois State entered the locker room at halftime leading 27-26.
The Redbirds opened the second half caught in turnover trouble and the Vikings took advantage. Cleveland State went on a 10-0 run to take a 36-27 lead with 7:52 on the clock. Koudelka put the 'Birds back in the game as she added a layup to trail by seven. The Vikings responded with a quick five points, but Maggett cut CSU's run short as she netted a jump shot and a 3-pointer. Koudelka followed to add two in the paint and earned her career first double-digit game. Illinois State finished the third behind by three, 50-47.
Illinois State cut the deficit to four in the final minute of the game, but the clock expired before the Redbirds could get ahead. Cleveland State finished victorious, 67-63.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Four Redbirds added double digits in today's loss including, Goods (22), Koudelka (12), Maggett (10) and Crompton (10).
- Goods led the Redbirds with 22 points to have four straight games in double figures and her second game this season with 20 plus points. The senior forward also added six rebounds.
- Koudelka added the first double-digit game of her career with 12 points and contributed a career high of six rebounds.
- Illinois State held Cleveland State below their scoring average (79.2) in today's 67-63 loss.
- Mariah Miller and Mariah White led for the Vikings with 17 and 16 points respectively.
- Redbirds' turnover trouble proved detrimental in tonight's match up as Cleveland State converted 21 points off of turnovers.
QUOTE FROM COACH
"We had 10 turnovers in the first half and 11 in the second that came at really critical times," said Coach Gillespie. "This one is tough. We were faced with adversity early with Paige Saylor leaving the game with a hand injury. We have got to get better, we have got to be better."
UP NEXT
The Illinois State women's basketball team will finish the three-game road slate as they travel to Indianapolis, Ind. on Sunday, Nov. 25 to face the Butler Bulldogs.
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