Fayta Posts Triple-Double as Redbirds Secure Best Home Start in Gillespie Era

NORMAL, Ill. – Behind a triple-double from Trista Fayta, Illinois State women's basketball (10-8, 4-3) thumped Valparaiso (0-18, 0-7), 93-74, to improve to 9-0 at CEFCU Arena this season and secure the program's best home start under head coach Kristen Gillespie.

Fayta shined bright on Thursday night, recording 14 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the first triple-double of her career, the first by a Valley player this season and the 22nd in Division I. This also marks the first triple-double for a Redbird since Tami Baalke had 15 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists against Western Illinois on Feb. 22, 1991.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Kya Hurt opened the scoring with a mid-range jumper. After a defensive stop, Doneelah Washington earned her first points of the night with a layup to give Illinois State an early 4-0 lead.

• The Beacons got on the board with a triple. Addison Martin then etched her name in the scoring column with a layup before Valparaiso splashed two straight triples to take a 9-6 lead. After a Beacon turnover, Washington cut the Birds' deficit to one, but Valpo answered with a layup and another three-pointer to extend its lead to six. The Beacons possessed an 18-14 edge at the first media timeout.

• Trista Fayta made a driving layup to bring the Redbirds within one, but Valpo scored with 40 seconds remaining and maintained its 23-20 lead until the first quarter buzzer sounded. 

• Washington scored the first points of the second period to cut the Birds' deficit back to one before Martin converted a layup plus the free throw to give ISU a 25-23 advanatge. Valpo regained the lead once more, hitting its sixth trey of the game, but Washington took that lead right back with a layup. Fayta then hit a triple from the left wing to put ISU ahead by four. ISU owned a 34-33 lead at the media timeout with 4:15 left in the half. 

• ISU's lead increased to 11 after a four-foot jumper from Martin and triples from Fayta and Grace Nelson, forcing Valpo to call a timeout with 2:02 left in the quarter. Out of the 30-second break, Martin hit a smooth turnaround jump shot to keep the momentum with the Birds. Nelson followed that up with her second trey of the night, giving ISU a 51-35 advantage heading into the locker room.

• The Redbirds began the second half on a 17-2 run, highlighted by four points from each Martin and Fayta and nine from Washington. Washington hit a triple and made a layup plus the free throw to give her 15 points for the quarter. Jaeden Pratt was the lone other Redbird to score in the period, scoring a layup with 4:09 left to make the score, 73-41. ISU led, 76-50, heading into the fourth quarter.

• Valpo managed to cut its deficit to 19 with 20 seconds left in the game. Several Birds saw the court in the fourth quarter, including De'Shawnti Thomas (three rebounds, one block), Zanyra Adams (one rebound), Jordan Fenske (one assist), and Morgan Bruno, each helping ISU take home a commanding 93-74 victory.

HIGHLIGHTS

• ISU has now won three straight games and nine straight contests against Valpo.

• The Redbirds have protected home court well over the last four years, posting a 48-9 record since the start of the 2022-23 season.

• Washington led the Redbirds with 12 points at halftime, followed by Martin with 11.

• Washington posted a 16-point third quarter, going 6-for-6 from the field, and added two more in the fourth period for a career-high 29 points on a career-high 12 made field goals. She subbed out with 6:02 left in the game. 

• Fayta was on triple-double watch at halftime with eight points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

• ISU shot 76.5% from the field in the second quarter, marking the Redbirds' highest field goal percentage in a single quarter this season.

• Fayta's two three-pointers tied her career-high. She hadn't hit two triples in a game since Dec. 5, 2024, against St. Francis.

• Martin shot 7-for-9 from the field on Thursday night for 18 points, while adding five assists and four rebounds.

• Four Redbirds scored in double figures: Washington (29), Martin (18), Fayta (14) and Pratt (10). The Redbirds have finished with 4+ double-figure scorers in 10 games so far this season. ISU is 40-11 when putting 4+ in double figures since the start of the 2023-24 campaign. Over the last three seasons, Illinois State has finished with 4+ double-figure scorers in 51 games.

UP NEXT

ISU will be back on the road for an MVC contest against UIC on Thursday, Jan. 22. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in Chicago.