Redbird women’s basketball earns second win in three days

Posted on February 4, 2018
 Illinois State women’s basketball team secured two win’s one on Friday and on Sunday at Redbird Arena. (Photo courtesy GoRedbirds.com)

By ISU Sports Information

NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State Women’s Basketball prevailed over the Crusaders in the final minutes to capture their second-straight MVC win, downing Valpo 63-55.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Valpo opened up the game with shot in the paint, but Megan Talbot responded quickly for the Birds with a three-point play. Talbot was fouled on her take to the basket and went 1-for-1 at the charity stripe to put the Birds up 3-2 with 8:52 on the clock in the first. Both teams flirted with the lead, but the Birds would finish ahead 10-9 at the conclusion of the first quarter.

The teams continued to battle throughout the entirety of the first half and would end tied at 24-24 at the halftime buzzer. Talbot led all scorers at the half with 10 points.

Valparaiso opened the second half with a 5-0 run to pull a 29-24 lead. Hannah Green was fouled and went to the line, going 2-for-2 to trail 29-26. Simone Goods put in another two to tighten the deficit, but the Crusaders fired back with another 5-point streak to lead 34-29. The Redbirds responded with a 7-0 run with shots by Goods, Green and a 3-pointer from Paige Saylor. This would give the Birds their first lead of the second half, and they would carry it to the end of the third. The Redbirds entered the final quarter ahead 39-38.

The back-and-forth theme remained consistent in the fourth, but the Redbirds prevailed over the Crusaders to earn their first conference weekend sweep since the 2013-14 season.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

  • Goods led the Redbirds with 19 points and six rebounds. She set a new career high in free throw attempts and free throws made, going 11-for-13 at the charity stripe.
  • Livingston followed with 11 points and seven rebounds.
  • Four Redbirds scored in double digits today for the first time since Jan. 1, 2017; Goods (19), Livingston (11), Katrina Beck (11) and Talbot (10)
  • This is the first time the Birds have captured a win and were outrebounded by their opponent. Valpo outrebounded the Birds 38-31.
  • Beck tied her career high of steals in a game, taking off with four. The last time she had four steals in a game was against Yale on Nov. 19, 2016.
  • Meredith Hamlet and Dani Franklin led for the Crusaders, scoring 17 and 15 points respectively. Franklin had a double-double with 13 rebounds.

What’s Next
The Redbirds hit the road next week as they face Southern Illinois on Friday and travel to Missouri State on Sunday.

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