By ISU Sports Information
NORMAL- Shakeela Fowler led the Illinois State women’s basketball team to a come-from-behind victory over Lindenwood Wednesday night inside Redbird Arena. The Redbirds defeated the Lions, 71-70, with the help of Fowler’s 22 points in ISU’s only exhibition game of the 2015-16 season.
In Fowler’s first action with the Redbirds, she led all scorers with 22 points, connecting six times from the field, while sinking 10-of-15 from the free-throw line. Fowler also had five steals, two of which came in the last minute and a half of the game. Katrina Beck scored 16 points, while Octavia Crump added 12, all of which came in the second half.
PODCAST: Listen to the postgame interview with coach Barb Smith.
The Redbirds and Lions traded baskets throughout the first quarter. ISU put the first points on the board on a Fowler layup. Fowler led all scorers in the first quarter with five points. ISU trailed by three points late in the quarter but were able to tie the game at the free-throw line. The Redbirds converted 4-6 from the line. The Redbirds and Lions ended the quarter tied, 14-14. Fowler also led the team in assists with four, while Beck also recorded five steals. ISU had 17 steals in the game and shot 45 free throws.
Beck hit a jumper at the 8:33 mark of the second quarter for the Redbirds, but ISU struggled from the field as the team was scoreless for eight minutes after the made basket. At the midway point of the quarter, Lindenwood used an 11-0 run to extend its lead, 32-17. Kassidy Gengenbacher hit a pair of 3-pointers in the second quarter to spark the Lions’ run. The Redbirds trailed, 34-20, at the half.
Illinois State got off to a slow start to open the third quarter, but Crump provided a surge halfway through the quarter. Crump scored seven points, grabbed three rebounds and gave out one assist to fuel ISU on a 13-5 run to end the quarter. The Redbirds cut into the Lindenwood lead and trailed, 49-41, with 10 minutes left in the game.
In the fourth quarter, ISU made a late run and pulled within four points of Lindenwood. Crump converted an and-one play followed by a deep jumper by Beck. With less than 90 seconds remaining in the game, Fowler willed the Redbirds right back into the lead by coming up with back-to-back steals. After the second steal, Fowler made a right-handed layup, was fouled and hit the free throw to give ISU the one-point lead, 67-66, with a minute left to play. Lindenwood’s Jenny Rocha split a pair of free throws on the ensuing possession to tie the game, 67-67, but once again, Fowler gave the Redbirds the lead for good with a twisting layup through traffic, 69-67. The Redbirds completed the comeback and beat the Lions, 72-69.
The Redbirds will kick off the regular season at Bowling Green, November 13.Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
