By ISU Sports Information
NORMAL – Katrina Beck and Viria Livingston each recorded career-highs in points and the Illinois State women’s basketball team picked up its first Missouri Valley Conference win of the season, defeating Wichita State, 70-49, Sunday on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.
Beck netted a game-high 17 points while Livingston chipped in with 15. Octavia Crump also finished in double figures with 16. It’s the fifth time this season that three Redbirds have scored in double figures.
Illinois State opened to a rocky start with six turnovers in the first two minutes, which allowed the Shockers to build an early seven point lead. In the two-minute span, Wichita shot 3-4 from the field while ISU did not attempt a shot. Katrina Beck snapped the run with a three-pointer, and Wichita State proceeded to turn the ball over five times in a three minute span. That allowed ISU to pull within a point at the five minute mark in the first quarter.
Illinois State continued to force turnovers on the defensive end as Wichita State piled up 10 turnovers by the 3:28 mark in the first. The Redbirds capitalized at the offensive end, hitting seven of eight free throws and taking a 14-9 lead as part of a 14-2 run.
The Redbirds would go on to finish the first quarter with a 14-12 lead thanks in part to Beck’s seven points. The two teams combined for 22 turnovers in the quarter.
A 6-0 ISU run early in the second quarter pushed the Redbirds’ lead to six and later in the quarter ISU put together another 6-0 run to take a 28-18 advantage. Beck’s big day continued throughout the half as she scored 14 first half points, which was a new career-high.
ISU led 38-25 at the half, which tied the most first half points for the Redbirds this season. ISU shot 57 percent from the field in the first half and knocked down 12 of 14 free throws. Wichita State was 0-for-2 from the free throw line.
The Redbirds opened the third quarter the way they closed the second: on a run. ISU scored the first six points of the half, extending their lead to 19. The Shockers chipped away at the deficit and pulled within 11 at the 3:30 mark. ISU did not allow them to get any closer, taking a 51-39 lead to the fourth quarter. Octavia Crump and Brechelle Beachum combined for nine of ISU’s 13 points in the quarter.
The consistent scoring of Beck, Crump and Livingston closed out the victory for Illinois State. The Redbirds owned the advantage in rebounds, bench points, points in the paint and fast break points. ISU forced Wichita into 30 turnovers and turned that into 40 points on the offensive end.
The win wraps up a four-game homestand for the Redbirds. ISU (3-10, 1-1 MVC) will begin a three-game road trip Jan. 10 at Indiana State. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
