By ISU Sports Information
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Octavia Crump was a consistent offensive threat for the Illinois State women’s basketball team, as it fell to Indiana State, 74-65, Friday at the Hulman Center. Crump netted 18 points, shooting 5-of-8 from the field and went 8-of-10 from the free throw line.
Katy Winge was the only other Redbird in double figures, pouring in 17 points thanks to three shots from three-point range, as Illinois State sank a season-best 55 percent from the field. Lindsay Smith scored eight points, as Mary Sims added seven. Sims led Illinois State with six rebounds, while the Redbirds pulled down 27, which was seven fewer than the Sycamores’ 34. Illinois State struggled with turnovers again, committing 23.
“Rebounding, fouls and turnovers were our problem in the game, and Indiana State capitalized on those three things,” head coach Barb Smith said. “That was the difference in the game. Our offense was much better, but we had too many turnovers. We worked very hard in the second half, but we didn’t come out as strong as I would have liked in the first half. I thought we shot better and got to the line more.”
Illinois State struggled from the field early, as it couldn’t connect for the first four minutes of the game, but the Redbirds regrouped and used a 7-0 run that lasted two minutes to take a 9-8 lead with 14:04 left in the first half. L. Smith threw a perfect pass to an open Winge, who sank a three, giving Illinois State its first lead of the game, 16-15, with 11:31 on the clock.
Then, the two teams traded baskets and were tied four times before Indiana State found its rhythm and drained 6-of-7 to take a seven-point lead, 34-27, with 3:25 remaining before the break. Crump completed a three-point play, after making a layup and drawing a foul to pull the Redbirds within four, 34-30, but a 6-2 run to end the half by the Sycamores sent Illinois State into the locker room trailing by eight, 40-32.
The two teams were successful finding the bottom of the net, as both teams shot 52 percent from the field in the opening half. Winge led Illinois State with nine points, while Crump and Sims added seven apiece. Sims led the Redbirds on the boards with four rebounds, as Illinois State pulled down 14 rebounds compared to Indiana State’s 12. The Sycamores sank 10-of-11 from the free throw line, which proved to be the difference before the break, as the Redbirds only made it to the charity stripe three times in the first half.
Illinois State came out of the locker room hot, as it opened the second half with a 7-0 run to cut Indiana State’s lead to one, 40-39, early in the half. Indiana State took a 48-43, but four-straight points by the Redbirds cut the Sycamores’ lead again to one, 48-47, at the 10:35 mark. Indiana State used an 11-5 run to take an eight-point lead, 60-52, with 6:28 left to play. Illinois State wasn’t helping itself during the Indiana State run, as the Redbirds committed four turnovers in 2:46.
The two teams struggled with turnovers over the final minutes of the game, but four-straight points by the Sycamores gave Indiana State a 13-point lead, 68-55, with 2:23 remaining on the clock. The Redbirds put on a full-court press late in the game and forced Sycamore turnovers, but free throws down the stretch gave Indiana State the 74-65 win.
Illinois State returns to the court Sunday, as it takes on Evansville. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.
Interview with Coach Barb Smith
