By: WJBC Staff
NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women’s basketball team trailed visiting Southern Illinois by 16 points at halftime, before rallying to tie the game in the fourth quarter. However, the Redbirds (5-15, 2-7 MVC) were unable to get over the hump, as the Salukis (10-10, 4-5 MVC) squeaked out a 63-56 victory Sunday in Missouri Valley Conference action on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.
Illinois State led 4-2 to start the contest, scoring on a pair of layups from freshman Megan Talbot and senior Brechelle Beachum. SIU then scored the next seven and used a 16-4 run to take a 10-point lead, before leading after the first 10 minutes, 18-10.
Turnovers would haunt the Redbirds the entire first half, as they turned the ball over 12 times. The Salukis took advantage and broke away from a 23-18 advantage with a 12-1 flurry over the final 5:10 of the second quarter to go into the break with their largest lead, 35-19.
Illinois State slowly fought its way back in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to seven nearly three minutes in when Talbot drilled a triple. After the SIU increased its lead back out to double-digits, the Redbirds came right back, as senior Taylor Stewart’s layup moved Illinois State to within five at 39-34 with 4:27 left in the stanza.
Once again, the Salukis had a response and stretched the lead back to 10, before the Redbirds rattled off six in a row, with sophomore Katrina Beck’s three-point play slicing the SIU advantage to 46-42 with 42 ticks left in the period. The Salukis then tallied the final three points to enter the fourth quarter leading 49-42.
The lead did not last long, as Illinois State scored the first seven of the final 10 minutes, with Talbot netting five points, including a long jumper that tied the game at 49-49.
After SIU retook the lead on a 3-pointer, Beachum knotted the game, 52-52, with 5:40 to go on a triple of her own, before the Salukis answered with five straight.
Back-to-back layups from sophomore Millie Stevens climbed the Redbirds back to within one at 57-56 with 90 second remaining. But SIU scored on its next possession to inch its lead back out to three.
The Redbirds appeared to have forced a turnover down three with 30 seconds remaining. But after a five-minute review, the ball was given back to the Salukis. SIU was then fouled and knocked down both of its free throws to extend its advantage to 61-56. Illinois State was unable to score the rest of the way, and the Salukis swished two more free throws to clinch the victory.
Stevens and Beachum each scored 12 points to lead the Redbirds, with Talbot just missing a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds. Stevens added eight rebounds, and Beachum handed out a game-high four assists to go along with a game-best three steals and five boards. Sophomore Viria Livingston came off the bench to pull down a season-high 10 caroms, and Stewart added nine points, five rebounds and two assists.
Illinois State shot 42.4 percent in the second half to finish the contest shooting 39.3 percent (22-of-56), including 5-of-20 from behind the arc. SIU, who shot 41.9 percent in the first half, cooled off over the final 20 minutes to shoot 38.2 percent (21-of-55) and 7-of-23 from distance.
Both teams struggled at the free throw line. The Redbirds shot a season-low 46.7 percent (7-of-15), while the Salukis were not much better at 56.0 percent (14-of-25).
Illinois State took much better care of the basketball in the second half, committing only four turnovers, but the Redbirds were outscored, 19-7, in points off turnovers. SIU turned the ball over only 10 times.
For the second game in a row and for the sixth time this season, Illinois State won the rebounding battle, as the Redbirds held a 43-38 advantage.
Rishonda Napier led all scorers with 20 points and added three rebounds, three assists and three steals. Kylie Giebelhausen added 18 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals, while Kim Nebo chipped in 13 points and a game-high 15 rebounds.
Illinois State’s conference homestand continues Friday, Feb. 3, when the Redbirds welcome Indiana State to town for their annual Play 4Kay game. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.
