By ISU Sports Information
NORMAL – The Illinois State women’s basketball team was outscored 29-19 in the second half and fell to Loyola, by a score of 57-41, on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena on Sunday.
Poor shooting and turnovers plagued the Redbirds as they shot 22 percent (12-for-54) from the floor and turned the ball over 21 times. Colleene Smith and Octavia Crump led the Redbirds with 10 points each. Viria Livingston scored seven points and led ISU with eight rebounds.
Illinois State (4-14, 2-5 MVC) started the game with scores on their first two possessions. Crump scored in the post and Katrina Beck nailed a corner 3-pointer to give ISU an early 5-0 lead. At the halfway point of the first quarter, Smith dove for a loose ball and found an open Shakeela Fowler, who proceeded to drive the lane and dish to a wide-open Livingston for an easy two. Loyola, however, scored five unanswered points and ended the opening quarter with an 11-10 lead.
Loyola (9-9, 5-2) continued its scoring run with baskets on its first four possessions starting the second quarter. After going scoreless for the first five minutes of the period, and giving up 18-straight points to Loyola, Crump stole the ball in the backcourt and ended ISU’s drought with a breakaway layup. The lid came off the basket for the Redbirds as they put together three-straight possessions with a score, cutting the Loyola lead to 24-17. The Redbirds went on a 12-4 run to finish the half, but still trailed 28-22, heading into the intermission.
The Redbirds began the second half with back-to-back layups from Smith and Fowler, which brought ISU within two points of the Ramblers, 28-26. But Loyola promptly answered with a 13-3 run to stretch its lead to 41-29, as the Redbirds endured an 0-for-9 stretch from the field.
The Redbirds didn’t come within 10 points of the Ramblers in the fourth quarter.
The Redbirds return to action Friday when they go on the road to face Evansville.
