By ISU Sports Information
NORMAL- Despite a close 30 minutes, the Illinois State women’s basketball team could not handle Drake’s hot shooting late in the second half, falling, 70-47, Sunday afternoon inside Redbird Arena.
Octavia Crump led the Redbirds for the second-consecutive game, scoring 14 points and collecting five rebounds, including four from the offensive end. Mary Sims was the next highest Redbird scorer, finishing with 10 points and grabbing three rebounds.
ISU (1-21, 1-10 MVC) shot 25 percent from the field and 26 percent from behind the arc, while the Bulldogs (15-7, 11-1 MVC) shot 42 percent from the field and 15 percent from behind the arc. Drake scored 36 of their 70 points inside the paint, while Illinois State scored only 16 points inside the paint. The Bulldogs also grabbed more rebounds, collecting 53 boards to the Redbirds’ 35.
Drake opened the game with a 6-0 run, as Illinois State struggled from the field. Lindsay Smith scored the first four points for the Redbirds, as the Bulldogs used a 7-0 run to take a 17-4 lead. During the Drake run, ISU continued to struggle from the field, as it went eight minutes without a field goal.
Illinois State pulled within single digits, 19-11, but a 10-3 Drake run gave the Bulldogs a 29-14 lead with 2:18 left in the half. The 15-point lead was the largest by the Bulldogs in the half. Crump scored four-straight points to end the half, pulling ISU within 11 points, 29-18, at the break.
At the half, L. Smith led the Redbirds with five points, while Zenobia Bess and Crump each added four. L. Smith also pulled down four rebounds, leading the team, while Mackenzie Freeman grabbed three. ISU shot 19 percent from the field, while Drake connected on 34 percent of its field goal attempts. Drake had convincing control of the boards, pulling down 31 compared to Illinois State’s 18.
ISU outscored Drake 12-6 at the start of the second half, as Illinois State pulled within five points, 35-30, with 13:50 left in the game. Five Redbirds scored in the run. Then, Drake found its offensive attack halfway through the second half, as it scored 10-straight points for a 45-30 advantage.
Illinois State regained momentum, pulling within nine of Drake with 7:15 remaining. The Bulldogs answered back and ended the game with a late 20-5 run. The run was too much for ISU to overcome, as it fell, 70-47.
The Redbirds return to the road, as they take on Indiana State Friday at 6:05 p.m. (CST), before traveling to Evansville Sunday for a 2:05 p.m. game.
