ISU women survive second-half rally to defeat Evansville

Posted on January 29, 2016

Colleene Smith scored a team-high 20 points in Friday’s win against Evansville. (Photo courtesy GoRedbirds.com)

By Joe Ragusa

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Illinois State women’s basketball team survived a late rally from the Evansville Purple Aces and escaped from the Ford Center with a 64-57 win Friday night.

PODCAST: Illinois State women’s basketball coach Barb Smith discusses the win over Evansville with WJBC’s Nick McClintock.

The Redbirds led by as much as 14 points at various points in the first half, but the Purple Aces clawed back and trailed by just four points by the end of the third quarter.

The game stayed close in the fourth quarter with Evansville pulling to within two points of ISU a couple times. Illinois State’s largest lead in the quarter ended up being the margin of victory.

Colleene Smith led the scoring for the Redbirds with 20 points, making nine of the 13 shots she attempted. She also grabbed seven rebounds.

Octavia Crump nearly recorded a double-double. She had nine points and nine rebounds.

Illinois State’s next game is Sunday in Carbondale against Southern Illinois University.

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].

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