NORMAL, Ill. – A 23-2 run to end the first quarter and a double-double from Hannah Chicken proved to be the difference Saturday evening at CEFCU Arena, as Illinois State women's basketball defeated Augustana College 96-54 to begin the season 3-0 for the first time since 2022-23.

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Illinois State got off to a back-and-forth start Saturday, holding an 11-10 lead at the first media timeout. Hannah Chicken and Madison Austin combined for 10 of the Redbirds' first 11 points.

• Coming out of the timeout, the Redbirds began to build momentum. Austin knocked down a jumper,  Jaeden Pratt drove to the basket and drew a foul, and Chicken and Grace Nelson each connected from beyond the arc. Nevaeh Thomas also converted a fastbreak layup and free throw as Illinois State closed the quarter on a 23-2 run over the final five minutes. The Redbirds led 31-12 after the first 10 minutes.

• Illinois State had a slower start to the second quarter, going more than two minutes without scoring while committing seven turnovers before the media timeout with 4:38 remaining in the half.

• The media timeout once again provided a spark, as Danyella Mporokoso ended the scoring drought with a 3-pointer to make it 43-22. Pratt later added a driving layup to extend the Redbirds' lead to 49-26, their largest of the half, with 2:30 remaining. The Vikings closed the half on a 5-0 run, sending Illinois State into the locker room with a 49-31 advantage.

• Illinois State opened the third quarter with an 8-4 run, highlighted by two free throws from Trista Fayta, a pair of baskets from Chicken and a driving layup from Mporokoso off an Augustana turnover.

• The Redbird defense held the Vikings scoreless for more than two minutes in the third quarter, helping Illinois State carry a 73-44 advantage into the final period.

• Mporokoso ended a nearly three-minute scoring drought with a turnaround jumper with 6:29 remaining. Pratt followed with her first 3-pointer of the afternoon, while a Mporokoso steal led to a Fayta fastbreak layup. Nelson added a layup as the Redbirds put together a 9-0 run over 1:52 to take an 84-49 lead into the final media timeout.

• Augustana opened the final stretch with a 3-pointer, but Illinois State's defense responded by holding the Vikings scoreless for the next 2:30. The Redbirds protected home court with a 96-54 victory.

HIGHLIGHTS 

• Hannah Chicken scored 11 first-quarter points, going 3-for-3 from the field and 4-for-4 from the charity stripe.

• Illinois State shot 62.5% (10-for-16) from the field in the first quarter, marking the Redbirds' highest shooting period in the first half this season and second highest in all periods this season behind the fourth quarter against Dayton (63.64%).

• Illinois State has outscored opponents 80-51 in the first quarter through the first three games.

• Chicken secured eight rebounds in the third period en route to her second-straight double-double (20 points, 12 rebounds) and the third for the Redbirds this season.

• Chicken picked up her first 20-point game as a Redbird and the fifth for Coach Kristen Gillespie's squad this season.

• Four Redbirds scored in double figures, marking the third straight game that at least four Birds have scored in double digits. Chicken led the way with a season-high 20 points. Madison Austin added 11, while Grace Nelson and Thomas rounded out the quartet with 10 each.  

• The Redbirds edged the Vikings 58-28 in rebounds. 

UP NEXT 
The Redbirds return to action on Wednesday when they host Green Bay at CEFCU Arena, with tip-off set for 6:30 p.m. CT on Doug Collins Court.