NORMAL, Ill. – Junior Juliunn Redmond recorded her first career double-double in Sunday afternoon's 81-58 victory over Evansville at Redbird Arena. Redmond led all scoring with 15 points, shooting 2-of-2 from behind the three-point line, while also grabbing a career-high 11 rebounds and adding an assist.
Three other Redbirds also contributed double-digit scoring: Mary Crompton (12 points. five assists, three rebounds), Cameron Call (11 points, two rebounds) and Lexi Wallen (10 points, four rebounds).
Illinois State improves to 10-3 (2-0 MVC) while Evansville drops to 3-10 (0-2 MVC). This is the first time since the 2012-13 season that the 'Birds are 2-0 to start Missouri Valley Conference play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After trailing 6-3 early in the first quarter, the Redbirds quickly regained the lead and rattled off a 16-4 run to close out the period. ISU then limited the Aces to only six points in the second quarter, as Evansville shot just 6-of-27 (22.2%) from the field in the first half. The 'Birds went into the locker room at halftime with a 36-16 lead.
TeTe Maggett was 2-of-3 from behind the arc in the first half, leading the Redbirds at the intermission with eight points. Wallen also had eight points and three rebounds in the first half.
ISU extended the lead in the third quarter to as much as 35 points, as the 'Birds exploded behind the three-point line for seven triples. Call hit all three of her three-pointers in the third period.
The Aces attempted a comeback in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Redbirds 26-14 in the period, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Every active member on Illinois State's roster saw playing time in today's game and scored.
- ISU's combined 11 three-pointers joins their performance versus Jackson State on Dec. 19 for the most this season. Call recorded three triples, with Crompton, Maggett and Redmond each making a pair. Freshman Hannah Kelle added her first career three-pointer in the fourth quarter.
- Illinois State's 31 points in the third quarter also matches their season-high for points in a quarter set at Jackson State on Dec. 19.
- Today marks the fourth occasion that the Redbirds have had four scorers in double figures this season. Illinois State has had at least three players in double-digits in eight of 13 games.
- The Redbirds outrebounded Evansville 54-37 on the day. ISU has held the advantage in rebounding in 10 of 13 contests this season.
QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH KRISTEN GILLESPIE
On the victory: "It was just a great team win. It's awesome as a coach when you can reward every single one of your players with playing time because they all work so hard and absolutely deserve it."
On Evansville: "You've got to give them credit because they are much improved. When they went to zone it gave us some issues, but that's the beauty of this league – there's good teams everywhere and I'm proud of our team for taking this game seriously and getting better because of it."
On Redmond's performance: "I know our staff and her teammates have so much confidence in her and she just went out there and played her game. I'm thrilled for her."
UP NEXT
The Redbirds travel to Peoria, Illinois to take on the Bradley Braves on Friday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m.
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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