CHICAGO, Ill. – Fifth-year senior Lexi Wallen led all scorers with 23 points as the Illinois State women's basketball team dropped a 69-64 decision to Loyola Chicago at Gentile Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Loyola improves to 13-4 (4-2 MVC) while ISU falls to 11-5 (3-2 MVC).
TeTe Maggett had 16 points and four rebounds in the loss with Juliunn Redmond adding 12 points, five rebounds and two assists. Senior Megan Talbot owned the boards, corralling a game-high nine rebounds on the day.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Ramblers jumped out to a fast start, tallying 11 first quarter points while holding the Redbirds to only four points and one field goal.
ISU bounced back, shooting 7-of-12 (58.3%) in the second quarter to outscore Loyola, 15-10, and enter halftime only trailing by two with a 21-19 score line. Wallen posted seven points in the first half with Talbot collecting seven of her nine rebounds through the first 20 minutes.
The Redbirds kept pace with the Ramblers for the remainder of the game, tying the score four times in the fourth quarter but never taking the lead. Wallen and Maggett scored 16 and 14 points, respectively, in the final 20 minutes, with redshirt freshman Mary Crompton recording all nine of her points in the second half.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Loyola held ISU to a season-low four points in a quarter (1Q).
- Illinois State had 36 points in the paint, with the bench contributing 14 points.
- The Redbirds did not commit any turnovers in the second half, after recording 11 in the first.
- The Ramblers have won six-straight against the Redbirds when playing at Gentile Arena.
QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH KRISTEN GILLESPIE
On the first quarter: "I thought we had some pretty good looks that first quarter and down the stretch. Unfortunately the ball just didn't go in. We also had 11 turnovers in the first half and then none the remainder of the game. We need to find a way to be better and continue to put our players in these situations in practice so we don't have these mental errors in games."
On Loyola Chicago: "We've got to give them credit – they did a really nice job cutting off our drives and forcing the outside shots that just weren't falling today."
UP NEXT
The Redbirds return home to host Drake on Friday and UNI on Sunday at Redbird Arena.
For all latest on Illinois State women's basketball, stay tuned at GoRedbirds.com and follow the team at @RedbirdWBB (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).
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