NASSAU, Bahamas - The Indiana State women's basketball team played its first game of the Bahamas Sunsplash Shootout Saturday night, coming away with a 69-65 win over UMKC. With the victory, the Sycamores improved to 9-1 on the season in front of 398 fans at Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium.
Senior Kelsey Luna paced the squad with 16 points highlighted by a trio of 3-pointers, while sophomore Brittany Schoen also finished in double figures with 12 points on three treys of her own. Sophomore Shannon Thomas was ISU's leading rebounder with six boards.
UMKC was led by 22 points from Morris and 12 points by Boyles. The Kangaroos also totaled 43 rebounds to ISU's 36, marking the first time Indiana State has been outrebounded this season.
Sophomore Deja Mattox opened the game with a jumper in the first minute, but the 'Roos came roaring back to take a 9-3 lead. Luna chipped in a 3-pointer, and freshman Taylor Whitley banked in a pair of free throws to bring the margin within one. UMKC's Kaycie Boyles then hit three straight shots for eight points, followed by a three from Buher. Mattox then hit one in the paint and charity shot after a foul by Mariah Davis.
Down 22-19, Luna hit a key three to tie the game, and Buher and Whitley combined for six points to make it 28-22. Morris battled back with five points of her own in the final minute, giving ISU just a 29-28 advantage heading into the locker room.
UMKC's Sam Sikkink came out shooting in the second half to put the 'Roos up 31-29, but ISU took a 43-35 lead at the first media timeout on treys from Schoen, Hodge and Luna. After a triple by UMKC, Mattox and Schoen put the Sycamores up by 11 for their biggest lead of the contest. The 'Roos cut the score to three on jumpers by Chazny Morris, Mariah Davis and Simone Bridges before the second media timeout. ISU responded with a basket from Cooley and a put-back by Thomas to make it 51-43, after which UMKC worked the ball around to see five different players score.
Indiana State extended the margin to eight on a layup and free throw by Hodge and a 3-pointer by Schoen, but the Kangaroos cut it to two with a minute to go on a bucket from Morris. Luna was then fouled by Leandra Thomas at 0:21, and she hit two free throws to salvage the lead at 66-62. Seconds later, Mattox was fouled by Morris and hit one shot, followed by another pair of charity shots from Luna on a foul from Dayon Hall-Jones. A last-second three from Morris went in at the buzzer, but the Sycamores preserved the win at 69-65.
Indiana State returns to action on Sunday, Dec. 20 with SMU. Tipoff is set for 6:15 p.m. (ET) at Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium in Nassau, Bahamas.
