By WJBC Staff
Senior Brechelle Beachum scored 20 of her game-high 23 points in the second half, and sophomore Katrina Beck added a career-high 19 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Illinois State women’s basketball team to a come-from-behind 63-51 victory over Loyola Chicago in Missouri Valley Conference action Sunday on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.
The Redbirds (6-16, 3-8 MVC) trailed 28-18 early in the third quarter, after the Ramblers (2-20, 1-10 MVC) scored 11 unanswered, with the final seven points of the second quarter and the first four of the third. Illinois State made an adjustment by inserting a pressing defense coupled with Beachum taking over both offensively and defensively in the stanza.
Beachum knocked down a triple to end Loyola’s run and tallied the next six points for the Redbirds. Her 3-pointer started a 12-2 run, which she capped with a layup, tying the contest at 30-30, after recording her third steal of the period. The Ramblers briefly regained the advantage, before Beachum scored her 10th point of the quarter to deadlock the game at 32-32 heading into the final 10 minutes.
Beck and Beachum combined to score the first nine points of the fourth quarter, with Beck’s triple finishing off 23-4 flurry and producing a 41-32 lead with 8:09 remaining.
The Ramblers climbed to within seven at the 5:06 mark, but Illinois State netted five of the next six points, with a layup from Beck stretching the advantage out to 51-40 with 3:24 left in the contest.
After Loyola scored four straight to crawl back within seven once more with 2:51 to go, the Redbirds took control for good and bulged their lead out to 14 with 56 ticks remaining on the clock, before clinching the 63-51 victory.
Illinois State outscored the Ramblers, 45-27, in the second half, including 31-19 over the final 10 minutes. The Redbirds almost matched their point total over the first three quarter in the final stanza, as they scored a season high for points in a quarter and points in a half.
Over the final 10 minutes, Illinois State shot 53.8 percent (7-of-13) and knocked down 15-of-22 free throws. Overall, the Redbirds went to the line a season-high 37 times and knocked down 26 to tie a season best in makes.
The home team started off the contest in brutal fashion. Illinois State made only 1-of-17 field goals in the first quarter, but the Redbirds only trailed 8-7 after the first 10 minutes.
Illinois State briefly took a 10-9 lead at the start of the second quarter on a three-point play from senior Taylor Stewart. But Loyola responded with six straight to take a 15-10 lead.
The Redbirds battled back with an 8-2 spurt, as sophomore Viria Livingston found Stewart for a layup, which moved Illinois State back in front, 18-17, with 5:12 left before halftime.
However, the Redbirds failed to score the rest of the quarter, and the Ramblers tallied the final seven to go into the break leading 24-18.
Illinois State finished the first 20 minutes 5-of-32 from the field, including 0-of-8 from behind the arc. But the Redbirds made 8-of-11 from the free throw line to stay within striking distance. For the game, Illinois State finished the game at 28.8 percent (17-of-59) and 3-of-16 from downtown.
The defense held Loyola to 35.1 percent (20-of-57) from the field, including 23.8 percent from 3-point range (5-of-21). The Ramblers also finished the contest 6-of-13 from the charity stripe, as they were outscored by 20 points and shot 24 less free throws than the Redbirds.
Illinois State also forced 22 turnovers, with 14 coming from steals, establishing a new season best. The Redbirds gave the ball up 15 times and also rejected seven shots. Illinois State also won the battle on the glass, 48-40, to produce a season high in caroms, including 20 on the offensive end, matching a season best as well.
Beachum scored her 23 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the field and 8-of-14 from the free throw line. She also added six rebounds and a game-high four steals. Beck, meanwhile, was only 3-of-12 from the field, but she established new career highs in free throws (12) and free throw attempts (14). She also added seven rebounds and three steals.
Stewart chipped in 14 points, seven rebounds, a team-high three assists and three steals, while Livingston pulled down a game-high nine rebounds and added two steals. Junior Hannah Green recorded a game-high four blocks and added six boards.
Kaitlyn Williams came off the bench to lead Loyola with 15 points, as she connected on 5-of-12 from 3-point range. Brandi Segars and Lee Williams added eight points, with Segars registering nine caroms.
The Redbirds return to action Friday, Feb. 10, when they travel to Des Moines, Iowa, to take on first-place Drake. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. inside the Knapp Center.
