By ISU Sports Information
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Octavia Crump was one of two Redbirds to score in double figures, as she led the Illinois State (0-1) women’s basketball team in its 2015-16 season opener Friday night at the Stroh Center. Despite Crump’s 19 points, the Redbirds fell to Bowling Green, 70-52, after BGSU (1-0) outscored ISU, 21-7, in the second quarter.
“I think we just went cold in the second quarter,” head coach Barb Smith said. “They were taking good shots, but they just weren’t falling. This is the first true minutes for half of our team, and I loved the fight. I am encouraged by what I saw out there, and it was a learning experience for our young players. There are things we saw that were good, but obviously there are things we need to work on.”
Crump was nearly perfect in all shooting categories, as she sank 6-of-7 from the field and the free throw line. Shakeela Fowler was the only other Redbird to reach double figures, as she netted 10 points. Crump and Fowler both grabbed five rebounds, while Fowler collected three steals followed by Crump with two. The Redbirds connected on 33 percent of their field goal attempts, while the Falcons found the bottom of the net on 41 percent of their attempts. ISU struggled from three-point range, shooting 12 percent, while BGSU was able to drain 30 percent of its shots from beyond the arc. Bowling Green outrebounded Illinois State by nine, 44-35.
Illinois State went nearly four minutes without a field goal in the first quarter until Viria Livingston grabbed an offensive board and got the putback, pulling ISU within one, 6-5, with 4:26 on the clock. Livingston scored the first five points for the Redbirds and was the only one to score for the first nine minutes of the game. Taylor Stewart recorded a steal, and found Crump in transition, getting Illinois State back within one, 8-7, at the end of the quarter.
The Redbirds took their first lead of the game, 10-8, off of a three by Crump, who sank her first career basket from three-point range. On the next possession, Fowler found the bottom of the net, increasing ISU’s lead to four, 12-8, one minute into the second quarter. Illinois State used a 7-0 run that began in the first quarter to take its first lead of the game. BGSU regrouped and used a 21-0 to take a 29-12 lead. Brechelle Beachum connected in the lane, as ISU went nearly nine minutes without a basket after the 7-0 run to start the quarter. At the half, the Falcons led, 29-14.
At the break, Crump and Livingston led the Redbirds with five points, while Beachum and Fowler added two apiece. Fowler and Livingston led ISU with three boards, while Colleene Smith collected three blocks. ISU shot 21 percent from the field, compared to BGSU’s 35 percent. The Falcons connected on 31 percent of their shot attempts from beyond the arc, while the Redbirds struggled from long range, sinking just 1-of-12. Bowling Green outrebounded Illinois State, 25-19, in the first half.
ISU regrouped during halftime and opened the third quarter with a 10-2 run, cutting BGSU’s lead to seven, 31-24. ISU scored six-straight points in back-to-back possessions, as Crump completed an and-one play followed by Katrina Beck draining a three from the top of the key. The Falcons used an 11-point run to shift momentum back to their favor, 44-26, with 5:26 remaining in the third. Bowling Green used an outside attack during the run, as it scored three-straight 3-pointers.
ISU found its offense in the third quarter, as it scored 24 points, 10 more than the whole first half, but the Redbirds still trailed by 12 points, 50-38, at the end of the quarter. Crump and Fowler scored the final nine points for Illinois State, but their effort wasn’t enough, as the Redbirds fell in its season opener, 70-52 at Bowling Green.
Illinois State opens the 2015-16 home season Wednesday against Murray State. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.,
