Senior Katy Winge finished her career at Redbird Arena with a 19 point showing in a loss to Missouri State (Photo courtesy goredbirds.com)
NORMAL- Lindsay Smith led the Illinois State women’s basketball team with a career-high 21 points, as four Redbirds recorded double-digit scoring performances in the 90-78 loss to Missouri State Sunday at Redbird Arena. Smith was 6-of-9 from the field, including three shots from beyond the arc. She was also a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line. It was just the second time this season ISU had four players in double figures.
Katy Winge netted 19 points, while Octavia Crump and Stekara Hall added 11 apiece. Illinois State (1-25, 1-14 MVC) shot 44 percent from the field, while Missouri State (12-13, 9-5 MVC) poured in 50 percent of its shot attempts. The Lady Bears grabbed 37 boards, as the Redbirds pulled down 33. Crump led ISU with eight boards, including two offensive rebounds, while Mary Sims collected four. Illinois State dished out a season-high 15 assists. Sims led ISU in the category with a career-high six assists.
The two teams traded points to open the game, before ISU took an 11-7 lead. Then, the Lady Bears used a 13-2 run to take a seven-point advantage, 20-13, with 10:27 left in the first half. During the run, the Redbirds were scoreless for more than three minutes, while MSU found its rhythm, connecting on 7-of-8 field goal attempts.
Illinois State used a 6-0 run to pull within two points, 23-21, but Missouri State regrouped and increased its lead to nine points, 32-23, off of a 7-0 run. The Redbirds were not able to score in the final three minutes of the half, while the Lady Bears increased their lead to 10 points, 37-27, for the second time in the opening half. Hall hit a pair of free throws, sending ISU into the locker room trailing by eight, 37-29.
At the half, Winge led the Redbirds with eight points, while L. Smith added seven, shooting 3-of-4 from the field, including a 3-pointer. ISU shot 39 percent from the field, while MSU drained 50 percent of their field goal attempts. The Lady Bears also had the advantage on the boards, pulling down 18. ISU grabbed 14 rebounds and were led by Crump, who had three boards.
The Lady Bears opened the second half with a 6-0 run and maintained its offensive attack, as they took a 20-point lead, 53-33. ISU used a 10-5 run to pull within 15 points, 63-48, off of 6-of-8 shooting from the field. Then, both teams traded baskets in the middle of the half, before L. Smith and Winge hit back-to-back threes to pull ISU within 11, 73-62, with 5:10 left to play.
ISU scored four-straight, cutting MSU’s lead to 80-68. With two minutes left in the game, Sims went 1-of-2 from the free throw line. ISU got the offensive board off of the miss, and L. Smith hit a three in the corner, pulling the Redbirds within 10 points, 82-72. Despite several late efforts, Illinois State ran out of time and fell to Missouri State, 90-78.
At the end of the game, ISU recognized Winge and three managers in a senior night ceremony.
The Redbirds return to the road for their final three games of the regular season. ISU travels to Loyola for a 7:05 p.m., game Friday, before taking on Bradley Sunday at 2:05 p.m.
PODCAST: Barb Smith and Katy Winge
