Illinois State secures most wins in five seasons after sliding past the Sycamores of Indiana State

Posted on February 16, 2018
Under Firsty-year coach Kristen Gillespie the Redbirds secured their winningest season in five years after the win over Indiana State. (Photo Courtesy GoRedbirds.com)

By ISU Sports Information

NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State Women’s Basketball captured a 63-53 victory over the Indiana State Sycamores, improving to the winningest season since 2012-13.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The entire first half was a back-and-forth affair between the Redbirds and the Sycamores, with six ties and nine lead changes. Simone Goods kept the Birds on track, contributing 15 points. The halftime lead came down to the final seconds of the second quarter. Goods completed a three-point play after getting fouled under the basket with seven seconds left, to lead 26-25. Indiana State quickly responded to pull ahead 27-26 with a jumper by Ashli O’Neal. The Redbirds left with no time to answer and would head to the locker room down by one.

The Redbirds came out on fire in the third quarter sinking three 3-pointers in a row to push ahead 37-30.Hannah Green netted two in a row followed by Katrina Beck with one. Beck put in another with 4:29 on the clock and paced the Redbirds to a 10-point lead. The Redbirds went on to outscore the Sycamores 20-9 and led 46-36 at the conclusion of the third.

The Redbirds remained determined for victory and never gave up the lead. The team captured their 12thvictory of the season, improving to the program’s winningest season since 2012-13.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

  • Goods grabbed her 100th career rebound in tonight’s contest and led all scorers with 29 points. She secured a double-double with 10 boards and also added a career high of five steals.
  • Viria Livingston dished out seven assists tonight, setting a new career high. Per usual, Livingston was defensively tough and grabbed 10 boards.
  • Beck and Green each scored in double digits today adding 13 and 11 respectively.
  • The Redbirds shot 50 percent from the 3-point range, going 6-for-12, which is the second best this season.
  • Three Sycamores scored in double digits, Ashli O’neal (14), Ty Battle (12) and Regan Wetland (11).

STAT OF THE GAME

  • With this win the Redbirds improve to a 12-13 overall record. The last time the program had 12 or more wins was the 2012-13 season

What’s Next
The Redbirds head to Iowa for a pair of MVC games against Northern Iowa and Drake, beginning at Cedar Falls on Friday against the Panthers.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…