EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Illinois State women's basketball team topped Evansville, 68-51, at the Meeks Family Fieldhouse on Thursday evening to complete the season sweep of the Purple Aces.
Junior Juliunn Redmond led all scorers with 18 points, adding nine rebounds and three assists while shooting 50 percent (7-of-14) from the floor. Lexi Wallen recorded her fourth double-double of the year, putting up 15 points and pulling down 11 boards.
Kayel Newland also finished in double-digits with 10 points, shooting 66.7 percent (2-of-3) from behind the arc. TeTe Maggett added eight points and 10 rebounds in the winning effort.
Illinois State improves to 18-10 (10-7 MVC) with the win while Evansville falls to 3-25 (0-17 MVC). The Redbirds have clinched the No. 4 seed in the MVC Tournament next week and will take on the fifth-seeded UNI Panthers on Friday, March 13 at 2:30 p.m.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams came out firing, as the Redbirds and Purple Aces posted 50 percent field goal percentages in the first quarter, with ISU sinking 4-of-7 from behind the arc. Newland led the 'Birds with eight points after the first period, shooting a perfect 3-of-3 from the floor and 2-of-2 from long range.
Illinois State's 23-17 first quarter lead was leveled by halftime, as UE would outscore the 'Birds, 16-10, in the second period to knot the score at 33. Evansville's A'Niah Griffin had eight of their 16 points in the period, converting on 3-of-6 field goals.
ISU took the lead for good on a pair of free throws by Maggett only 10 seconds into the third quarter. The Purple Aces hung tough, battling from behind and trailing by only two at the 2:18 mark in the third period. The 'Birds would end the quarter on a 5-0 run, capped off by a Mary Crompton triple to take a seven-point, 51-44 advantage into the final period of play.
The Redbirds outscored the Purple Aces, 17-7, in the final quarter to end the game with a 68-51 score line.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- ISU has now had at least three players score in double figures in 19 of 28 games this season.
- The Purple Aces were limited to only two free throws the entire game and were outrebounded by the 'Birds, 47-28.
- Thursday's game featured five ties and seven lead changes, with the 'Birds leading for 30:44.
- The Redbirds have now recorded back-to-back years with at least 18 wins for the first time since the 2011-12 (19-13, 13-5 MVC) and 2012-13 (24-11, 13-5 MVC) seasons.
- Both Lexi Wallen (11 rebounds) and TeTe Maggett (10 rebounds) finished with rebounding in double figures, making it the first time this season multiple Redbirds accomplished the feat in the same game.
QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH KRISTEN GILLESPIE
On the opponent: "They played us really well and we knew coming in that this wouldn't be a repeat of last time. They've been playing teams like this the last couple of weeks and you've got to give them credit."
On individual performances: "JuJu played really well down the stretch. Kayel was outstanding in the first half and I'm so excited for her. She's a kid who had tough luck this season with nagging injuries and it's great to see her have a game like that."
UP NEXT
Illinois State concludes its regular season at Terre Haute on Saturday, facing the Indiana State Sycamores at 2 p.m. at the Hulman Center.
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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