NORMAL, Ill. – Fifth year guard Juliunn Redmond collected her sixth 20+ point performance of the season in Sunday's 72-64 victory over Indiana State (10-10, 5-4 MVC), helping the Redbirds (13-9, 9-2 MVC) to their third-straight win at Redbird Arena in Illinois State's annual Play4Kay game.
Illinois State celebrated wins both on and off the court, as the Redbirds set a new program fundraising record, raising $30,694 for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and the fight against ALL cancers affecting women.
Redmond finished with a game-high 25 points, adding seven rebounds, five assists and two steals in 36 minutes of action. Redshirt junior Mary Crompton went 3-for-8 from behind the three-point line and a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe to finish with 17 points on the day.
Junior forward DeAnna Wilson collected her sixth double-double of the season and eighth in her career, recording 10 points and 11 rebounds.
The Sycamores were led by Natalia Lalic, who finished just shy of her career high with 18 points.
TURNING POINT
The Sycamores got on the board first, scoring off a jumper from Mya Glanton, but their lead would be short-lived as the Redbirds rattled off a 10-0 run bookended by triples from Crompton.
Illinois State would lead the rest of the way, building up to as much a 17-point lead midway through the second quarter and holding off a late surge from the Sycamores that saw the other ISU get within six with 5:43 remaining in the fourth quarter. Redmond tallied nine of her 25 in the fourth quarter to successfully fend off Indiana State, 72-64.
IN THE BOX SCORE
- Sophomore Jasmine McGinnis-Taylor led the team with two blocks on the day, adding four points and six rebounds in 11 minutes played.
- After Redmond's 25 points today, the fifth year sits at 981 career points as a Redbird and 19 points away from joining the 1,000-point club. Redmond has scored in double figures in 50 of 74 contests at ISU and in each of her last six games.
- Crompton currently ranks fourth all-time in career three-pointers at ISU with 194 triples and is looking to become the first Redbird to record three seasons with 60+ threes (currently at 54 this year).
- With Sunday's win, Illinois State improved its win streak to six games in the series with Indiana State, and the Redbirds have now swept the Sycamores in each of the last three seasons.
QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH KRISTEN GILLESPIE
On ISU's Play4Kay game: "I think the biggest victory that happened today is that we set a record as a program and as a community by raising over $30,000 for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. I'm just so proud that we continue to grow this movement and I want to thank everyone that donated. You never know which dollar will find the cure and you hope one of those 30,000 we just raised will push the needle closer."
On the opponent: "Credit to Indiana State, they are well-coached and Chad has done an unbelievable job with that program. Those young women play incredibly hard and I thought their pressure bothered us, as you can see with our turnovers. I'm really proud of our players and the fight they showed today, sticking it out."
UP NEXT
The 'Birds head to the Windy City, taking on Loyola Chicago on Thursday night before heading to Valparaiso for a Saturday match-up. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+/3.
For all latest on Illinois State women's basketball, stay tuned at GoRedbirds.com and follow the team at @RedbirdWBB (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
