Bonnie Ryan
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- The Indiana State women's basketball team lost its fourth straight game at the hands of Illinois State Friday night, 69-53, in front 3,333 fans at Hulman Center. With the loss, ISU drops to 9-5 (0-3 MVC) on the season.
Senior Kelsey Luna led the Sycamores offensively with 15 points and went a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line to extend her streak to 17 consecutive free throws made since Dec. 19. Luna also added to her career points total - now 1,215 - to pass former Sycamore Laura Rudolphi (1,208) on the program's individual career points leaderboard, where she ranks 14th all-time.
Sophomore Shannon Thomas was the second player to reach double figures for ISU, finishing with 10 points and five rebounds. In addition, freshman Taylor Whitley, who earned her first career start, topped the defensive effort with six boards and two steals.
Illinois State's Maggie Krick totaled 26 points on 11 for-15 shooting, including four 3-pointers, while Katie Broadway added 20 points of her own. Ashleen Bracey posted a double-double on 14 points and 10 rebounds with two blocks.
Bracey opened the game with two straight baskets, but Indiana State answered immediately to take an 11-4 lead five minutes into the game. Krick and Broadway then hit back-to-back treys and pushed Illinois State out to a six-point advantage midway through the half. The Sycamores narrowed it to one with a jumper from junior Kelsie Cooley and a triple from sophomore Deja Mattox, and a layup by Luna kept it competitive at 23-20. But strong shooting from Broadway on three straight 3-pointers helped the Redbirds take over at 34-21 at the break.
Building upon her 11 first-half points, Krick came out with a quick jumper in the first 10 seconds of the second stanza. A three by ISU sophomore Brittany Schoen and layups by Luna and Whitley then cut it to five. Bracey rallied off two jumpers, and Krick poured in a trio of long shots to make it 56-43. Bracey then hit a pair of free throws and a layup, and Broadway contributed five points, followed by two charity shots from senior Nicolle Lewis to go up by 19. A final 3-pointer from Luna and a layup by senior Laurence Rivest were the Sycamores' final offensive efforts, capping the game at 69-53.
Indiana State returns to action on Thursday, Jan. 14 at Wichita State. Tipoff is set for 8:05 p.m. (ET) in Wichita, Kan.
