NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State women's basketball (13-6, 6-3 MVC) rode a 24-point effort from DeAnna Wilson to hand MVC-leading Drake (15-5, 8-1) its first loss in conference play 79-70 Saturday at CEFCU Arena.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Wilson tallied her second-straight 20-plus point performance and her fourth in MVC play. She added 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block in a strong all-round outing.
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Kate Bullman scored 9 of her 11 points in the fourth quarter, hitting three-straight threes in a 9-0 personal scoring surge. She also had 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks and 1 steal.
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Abbie Aalsma has reached double figures in three straight games for the first time in her career. She was 2-for-4 from deep and finished with 10 points on the night.
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The lead changed hands five times in the first quarter, before Illinois State used an 11-0 run to jump ahead 29-19 in the second. Aalsma netted a long ball while Wilson scored five straight to cap off the run and give Illinois State the first double-figure lead of the game. The Redbirds led the rest of the way and held off Drake for a thrilling win.
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Illinois State had an answer for every Drake run, including a three-minute stretch to open the third quarter where the Redbirds scored 11 points. Aalsma, Wong and Wilson hit from deep and the Redbirds led 48-37 at the 7:31 mark of the third.
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Drake cut the Illinois State lead to three before Bullman scored nine straight points to put Illinois State back in front 72-62.
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Daijah Smith's and-1 with 2:14 to go all but secured the win for Illinois State.
GAME NOTES
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After 12 points in the fourth quarter on Thursday against UNI, Bullman is averaging 10.5 points in the fourth quarter alone over the last two games.
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The Redbirds shot 10-for-20 from behind the arc, just the second time this season Illinois State has shot north of 50 percent in a single game. (54.5 percent Nov. 19 vs Saint Francis.)
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Every Redbird who checked into the game scored on Saturday. The Redbirds had 20 points off the bench, led by Caroline Waite's 8 points.
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Illinois State improved to 9-1 on its home floor.
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