By ISU Sports Information
NORMAL – Shakeela Fowler recorded career-highs with 21 points and six assists, but it was not enough as the Illinois State women’s basketball team fell, 74-65, to UIC Monday night on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.
Fowler came alive in the second half, after posting two points in the first half, but a balanced attack from UIC was too much to handle. Ruvanna Campbell recorded a double-double with 26 points and 13 rebounds, while Kendyl Nunn chipped in 19.
ISU led 12-9 after one quarter of play. Both teams struggled to find a rhythm early, combining to shoot 7-of-31 with 18 turnovers in the first quarter. Octavia Crump and Millie Stevens provided the offense with 10 of ISU’s 12 points. While the Flames struggled overall from the field, they did connect on 2-of-3 from beyond the arc.
The Redbirds scored first and did not trail until the 3:52 mark in the second quarter, when UIC capped a 10-4 run with a jumper from Nunn to put the Flames ahead, 21-19. ISU responded with a three-point play from Katrina Beck and carried a 22-21 lead into the half.
The two teams traded baskets to start the third quarter, but an 8-0 run from the Flames put them ahead 35-29 with 6:04 remaining, their largest lead of the game. Taylor Stewart snapped the run with the Redbirds’ first three of the game.
Despite shooting 7-of-12 in the third quarter, ISU found themselves down, 48-38, at the break. UIC finished the third quarter shooting 10-of-15, behind six points apiece from Campbell and Cate Soane. Fowler endured a 1-of-7 first half, but bounced back to net six points in the third on 3-of-3 shooting.
Campbell opened the fourth with a layup and a block on the defensive end, which was followed by a pair of field goals to give UIC its largest lead at 16. Fowler did her best to keep ISU in the game with a trio of threes, but Campbell proved to be too much inside with 22 second-half points.
Fowler was joined in double figures by Crump, who scored 12 and grabbed a team-high six rebounds. Beck scored 11 on 3-of-6 shooting and four free throws. Viria Livingston also had six boards and chipped in four points.
UIC owned a 37-32 advantage on the boards and forced 22 Illinois State turnovers. In addition, the Flames’ bench outscored ISU’s, 23-8.
The loss drops the Redbirds to 1-2 on the season. ISU will travel to San Antonio for the UTSA Tournament with games Friday and Sunday.
