NORMAL, Ill. – True freshman Kya Hurt had a career night as Illinois State (7-6, 1-1) routed Indiana State (4-8, 0-2), 105‑64, in a conference matchup on Monday at CEFCU Arena. Hurt, who went 9-for-12 from the field for a career-high 26 points, is the only freshman in the NCAA this season with at least 25 points, six assists, four steals and three rebounds in a game, and the only player from any class to do so while shooting 75% from the field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Addison Martin scored the first points of the game with a jumper. Doneelah Washington followed with a jumper of her own to give ISU an early 4-0 lead.
• Madison Austin made her first three-point attempt of the night to put the Redbirds ahead by seven with four minutes left in the first quarter.
• ISU had missed five straight field goal attempts before a steal and fastbreak layup by freshman Kya Hurt stopped the drought with 34 seconds left in the period.
• The Redbirds led, 24-18, after 10 minutes of play with the help of Martin's eight points.
• ISU started the second quarter on a 7-0 run, highlighted by a Hurt triple, to force the Sycamores to call their first timeout.
• Right out of the 30-second break, Hurt splashed her second three-pointer of the game, and she didn't stop there. Hurt then went on a 6-0 run, hitting two triples in the span of 20 seconds to give ISU a 21-point advantage over the Sycamores.
• Hurt took over the game with a 16-point second period, and Indiana State went on a three minute-plus scoring drought and missed seven straight field goal attempts to surge the Redbird lead to 28 at the break.
• The halftime break didn't cool off Hurt, who scored the first two points of the second half. Thirty seconds later, Bella Finnegan etched her name in the scoring column with a three-point jumper.
• The Redbirds led the Sycamores, 65-27, at the under-five media timeout.
• De'Shawnti Thomas joined in on the action and scored her first field goal of the season off an assist from Washington. ISU then went on a two-minute plus scoring drought with three turnovers before Thomas converted another layup, sparking the Redbirds to finish the quarter on a 6-0 run. Jaeden Pratt hit a triple at the buzzer to give ISU a 30-point lead.
• Zanyra Adams, Austin and Washington led the offense in the fourth quarter with six, six and eight points, respectively.
• ISU made four of its last five field goals to push past the 100-point mark for the second time this season and solidify its first MVC win of the year.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Hurt's career-high 26 points are the most by an MVC freshman and by a Redbird in a game this season.
• Hurt took over in the second quarter, shooting a perfect 7-for-7 from the field and scoring 16 points to reach 22 points by halftime.
• Hurt's four three-pointers marked a career high and are tied for the most by a Redbird in a single game this season.
• Martin continued her streak of scoring in double figures in every game so far this season with 12 points.
• Martin (12 points, 10 rebounds) and Washington (16 points, 10 rebounds) each posted double-doubles against the Sycamores. They are the first Redbird pair to do so since DeAnna Wilson and Kate Bullman did it against Chicago State in 2023.
• ISU led the game for 38:58 and never trailed Indiana State during Monday's victory, which marked the Redbirds' 13th consecutive win over the Sycamores.
• ISU shot .529 in the first half, highlighted by a .611 shooting effort from the field in the second period.
• The Redbirds' 105 points are tied for the fifth-most in a single game in program history.
• ISU made a season-high 11 three-pointers.
• With the win, ISU remains perfect at home this season with a 6-0 record.
• Eleven different Redbirds scored during Monday's contest, including four players who reached double figures (Hurt, Martin, Washington, Fayta).
UP NEXT
The Redbirds will continue MVC play with a contest against Murray State on Friday night. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. at the CFSB Center in Murray, Ky.
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