SAN JUAN – Illinois State headed into the final game of the Puerto Rico Shootout on Friday looking to pick up its first win in San Juan, however a hot start by Wake Forest would stake them to an early lead that ISU was not able to come back from and the Redbirds fell by a final score of 57-44 at Coliseo Guillermo Angulo.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Redbirds took an early 3-2 lead just two minutes into the contest on a three-pointer by Jaeden Pratt, however that's when the Wake Forest offense would heat up as it went on a 15-0 run to take a 17-3 lead on the Redbirds with 3:24 remaining n the first quarter.
• Wake would take a 21-8 advantage over Illinois State into the second quarter and scored the first bucket of the second stanza, before the Redbirds ripped off a 13-0 run to cut the deficit to just two at 23-21 with 4:37 left before halftime. The run was sparked by Doneelah Washington, who had eight points including six-straight at one point, and Kya Hurt drilled a three-pointer to keep the momentum going for the Birds.
• Wake would answer with a 7-0 run to make the score 30-21 with 3:09 to play, but once again the Birds would answer with the final four points of the quarter to cut the halftime deficit to 30-25.
• The two teams battled back and forth in the third quarter, as Wake was able to push the lead to eight points at one point before the Redbirds battled back to cut it to four points at 35-31 on a jumper by Washington with 4:35 to play. The lead would stay there until back-to-back jumpers by Bella Finnegan and Addison Martin got the Redbirds within a bucket once again at 41-39 with 2:15 left on the clock. A 5-0 run by Wake Forest would put the lead back to seven at 46-39 as action headed to the fourth quarter.
• Wake slowed the game down in the fourth quarter, and the Redbirds made just two shots from the field in the final quarter as Wake Forest pulled away for the 57-44 win over the Redbirds.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Illinois State was led in scoring by Addison Martin, who scored in double figures for the eighth-straight game to start the season scoring 14 points to go along with eight rebounds against Wake Forest.
• Thanks to her run in the second quarter, Washington finished with her third double-double of the year with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
UP NEXT
The Redbirds are back in action on Wednesday, December 3, when they open Missouri Valley Conference play with a road contest at UNI. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Cedar Falls, Iowa, at the McLeod Center.
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