By ISU Sports Information
NORMAL- The Illinois State women’s basketball team used a complete team effort to produce its best three-game start in six years, as the Redbirds (2-1) took care of business with a 77-56 victory over Valparaiso (1-2) Saturday on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.
Three players scored in double-figures, with senior Taylor Stewart pouring in a career-high 24 points. She knocked down 7-of-12 from three-point range, which tied the program record for most triples in a game, and finished the game 7-of-14 from the floor to tie a career high in made field goals. Stewart also grabbed five boards and handed out three assists.
Junior Hannah Green and sophomore Millie Stevens both added 15 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Green’s point and rebound total were season bests, as the first-year Redbird also recorded a season-high four steals. Stevens tied her career highs in rebounds and made free throws, as she went to the free throw line a career-best seven times and made five.
Senior Brechelle Beachum came off the bench to chip in nine points and a season-high three steals, while sophomore Viria Livingston stuffed the stat sheet with five points, a season-high seven rebounds, a career-best six assists and two steals. She also set the tone on defense with her pressure. Sophomore Katrina Beck tallied a career-high four steals, a season-high four assists to tie a career best and six points.
Illinois State trailed 10-5 nearly four minutes through the first quarter, before a jumper from Green and Stewart’s second three knotted the game at 10-10. Valpo responded with six-straight points to take its largest lead, but the Redbirds closed out the opening frame with the final five points to trail 16-15 after the first 10 minutes.
Green knocked down a jumper on Illinois State’s first possession of the second quarter and gave the Redbirds the lead for good. Illinois State tallied the first seven points of the stanza, with a Stewart trey ball capping a 12-0 run for a 22-16 advantage at the eight-minute mark.
The run eventually turned into 17-3 spurt and a 21-5 run, after Stewart knocked down a pair from the charity stripe, which increased the lead to 31-21 with 4:59 remaining before the half.
The Crusaders answered with six of the next eight points to force head coach Barb Smith to call a 30-second time out. The timeout worked and the Redbirds closed out the half on a 10-2 flurry to go into the break leading 43-29.
Illinois State shot 58.8 percent (10-of-17) in the second quarter, forced Valpo into seven turnovers, outscoring the Crusaders 12-2 in points off turnovers in the period and 20-2 in the half, after producing a total of 14 first-half miscues. The Redbirds also outscored the Crusaders 28-13 over the second 10 minutes.
Another triple from Stewart at the 7:55 mark of the third quarter stretched the lead out to 17 at 48-31 and capped a 15-4 run, after the Smith timeout in the second quarter. Valpo crept back to within 48-37 with six unanswered points, but Illinois State answered right back with six of its own with a three-point play from Stevens and a bucket from downtown by Stewart.
The six unanswered points eventually turned into a 12 out of 13 and 18 out of 21, as Stewart’s sixth and seventh threes of the game gave the Redbirds their largest lead of the contest, 66-40, with 7:25 left in the game.
Illinois State’s defense was on point throughout the contest. The Redbirds forced the Crusaders into 30 turnovers thanks to a season-high 18 steals, as they held a commanding 27-8 advantage in points off turnovers. The defense also held Valpo to only 37.2 percent (16-of-43) shooting, including 4-of-14 from downtown.
Offensively, Illinois State shot 35.1 percent (26-of-74) but made 10-of-28 from behind the arc. The Redbirds also dished out a season-best 17 assists and won the rebounding battle for the first time, 43-39, including a commanding 20-7 lead on the offensive glass, which allowed Illinois State to hold a 16-4 advantage in second-chance points. Also, the Redbirds took much better care of the basketball and only turned it over a season-low 12 times.
Illinois State returns to action this Tuesday, Nov. 22 when the Redbirds welcome Yale to Redbird Arena, with tipoff slated for 7 p.m.
