Redbirds Erase Early Deficit, Pull Out Overtime Win Against Braves

NORMAL, Ill. — Illinois State women's basketball (13-9, 7-4) overcame an early 10-point deficit and pulled out a gritty 58-54 victory in overtime against the Bradley Braves (14-8, 7-4) in the annual Play4Kay game and I-74 rivalry on Sunday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Bradley jumped out to an 8-0 lead, forcing the Redbirds to call their first timeout with 7:28 left in the first quarter.

• The Braves extended their lead to 10 before Trista Fayta put the Redbirds on the board with a triple. ISU earned four straight stops defensively but couldn't convert on the offensive end. Bradley then swished a three to make it 13-3 with 2:40 left.

• Fayta hit another three-pointer, this time from the left wing, to cut the Birds' deficit to seven with just over a minute left to play in the period. Bradley answered with two free throws, but Bella Finnegan hit a buzzer-beater three to give the Redbirds momentum heading into the second period, trailing 15-9.

• Doneelah Washington scored the first bucket in the paint for the Redbirds with a driving layup. Finnegan then scored a layup of her own off an assist by Addison Martin to put the Redbirds within four with 7:53 remaining in the first half. A trey from freshman Jaden Pratt pulled the Birds within two, prompting Bradley to call a timeout with 5:42 left in the second quarter.

• De'Shawnti Thomas subbed in and made an immediate impact, tying the game at 19 a piece with a driving layup. Bradley went on a 4-0 run before Fayta muscled her way to the hoop and was fouled, making the layup but missing the free throw. Madison Austin earned a chance at the line right before the half and went 1-for-2. ISU went into the locker room trailing, 23-22, after a resilient second quarter.

• Bradley struck first in the second half. Fayta scored a layup to bring her total to 10 points and cut the Birds' deficit back to one, but the Braves continued to answer and held on to their lead.

• Finnegan tied the ballgame for the first time since 0-0 with her second three-pointer of the game with 3:57 left in the third. Bradley answered with a pullup jumper, but Finnegan came right back down the court and made a pullup jumper of her own to knot the game again at 31. Sticking with the hot hand, Finnegan gave the Redbirds their first lead of the day with another triple with 1:51 remaining in the third period. Bradley tied the contest, 34-34, with a shot from downtown as the buzzer sounded.

• The Redbirds retook the lead early in the fourth quarter off of a Kya Hurt triple, the freshman's first points of the game. ISU held a 37-36 advantage at the media timeout.

• Out of the timeout, Washington extended the Birds' lead to three with a layup. Then, following a steal by Finnegan, Washington was fouled as she went to the hoop and swished 1-of-2 ensuing free throws to put ISU ahead by three once again. A steal and then tough maneuver in the paint for a layup by Fayta with 2:58 left gave the Birds a five-point edge. 

• A 7-0 run from the Braves put them ahead, 45-44, with just over a minute to play. But, just like the end of the third quarter, Finnegan had an answer, pulling up from three-point land and swishing it to bring the fans in pink to their feet.

• Up by one, Fayta went to the free throw line and made 1-of-2 shots, giving the Redbirds a two-point edge with 21.5 seconds remaining. Then, the Braves knotted the game at 48 a piece. ISU called a timeout with 9.9 seconds left to draw up a play for the final shot. The Redbirds turned the ball over, giving the Braves a chance at a game-winner with 5.5 seconds remaining, but a clutch block by Washington sent the game into overtime.

• ISU's first five points in OT came from free throws, including four from Washington and one from Hurt, before Finnegan swished a pull up jumper to increase the Redbirds' lead to four with 58.6 seconds remaining. Martin then scored her first point of the day from the free throw line to bring the lead to five with 39 seconds left in the game.

• A big three-pointer from the Braves brought them within two, but a free throw each from Fayta and Washington clinched the game, 58-54.

HIGHLIGHTS

• ISU raised over $36,000 toward the Kay Yow Cancer fund on Sunday afternoon.

• Sunday marked the 16th-annual Play4Kay game for the Redbirds. The Illinois State women's basketball program was recognized as a Play4Kay National Award Winner for the fourth year in a row in 2025.

• The Redbirds are now 11-0 at home this season, the best start at CEFCU Arena under Gillespie.

• Sunday's win marked the Redbirds' first overtime victory this season.

• This is the first time ISU has won this season when its opponent scores the first points of the contest.

• Finnegan's 19 points and seven made field goals are a season-high for the senior.

• Washington secured her eighth double-double of the season with 14 points and 14 rebounds.

• Fayta nearly posted a double-double with 14 points and seven boards.

• ISU has now won 10 of the last 11 games in the series against Bradley. ISU is also now 32-12 all-time against Bradley in Normal and have won the last six contests against the Braves at CEFCU Arena dating back to 2021.

• The Redbirds have protected home court well over the last four years, posting a 50-9 record since the start of the 2022-23 season.

UP NEXT

The Redbirds are back home on Saturday, Feb. 7, hosting the Drake Bulldogs at 4 p.m.