By ISU Sports Information
NORMAL- The Illinois State Redbirds women’s basketball team fell to Indiana State 60-36 Sunday afternoon at Redbird Arena. Illinois State is still searching for its first win of the season after the loss, suffering from its worst shooting performance of the season.
The Redbirds were led in scoring by Mackenzie Freeman and Taylor Stewart who tallied six points, while three other players added five.
After a dismal shooting performance by both teams in the first half, Indiana State found its groove in the second half, scoring 42 of its 60 points in the second period. The Sycamores finished the game 21-of-50 from the field with 16 made field goals in the second half. They were aided by 37 points from their bench players.
A 16-2 run midway through the second half sealed the deal for Indiana State as they pushed their lead to as many as 10. Five minutes later, the Sycamores were at it again, hitting 6-of-7 field goals, extending their lead to 21.
Illinois State’s efforts to comeback were thwarted every time by the inability to score the basketball. The Redbirds were 9-of-52 from the field and did not score a field goal in the final 6:53.
Illinois State jumped out to a 4-0 lead at the first media timeout, and then fought through a scoring drought that featured three turnovers in three minutes to lead 7-5 at the 11:20 mark in the first half. Mackenzie Freeman supplied six of the Redbirds’ first seven points, and Illinois State forced the Sycamores into six early turnovers.
Indiana State went on a 6-0 run to take a 15-12 advantage. The Redbirds went nearly 10 minutes without a field goal at the end of the first half, but a three-point play by Colleene Smith with 56 seconds remaining pulled Illinois State even with the Sycamores at 15.
The Sycamores would eventually take an 18-16 lead to the locker room at the halftime break.
Poor shooting plagued both teams in the first half as the Sycamores shot just 21 percent from the field, including nine percent from three-point land. However, they outdid their counterparts who were a shade below at 18 percent from the field.
The Redbirds turned the ball over 13 times in the first half while Indiana State committed 11 turnovers. Despite trailing at the break, Illinois State led for over 12 minutes of the first half.
Every Redbird who entered the game tallied at least one point.
The Redbirds (0-16, 0-5) will take a two-game road trip this coming weekend, beginning at Wichita State Friday evening. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
