Bonnie Ryan
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- The Indiana State women's basketball team sent its seniors out in fine fashion on Sunday, posting a 70-57 win over Bradley at Hulman Center. With the victory, Indiana State improves to 16-11 (7-9 MVC) and extends its winning streak to five games since Feb. 14.
Senior Kelsey Luna became Indiana State's all-time leader in career 3-pointers made, passing former Sycamore Kourtney Mennen (256) for sole possession of first place. Luna now has 258 career threes and is tied for fifth all-time in Missouri Valley Conference history.
Three Sycamores reached double-figure scoring in the win, with Luna and sophomore Brittany Schoen each totaling 17 points. Luna went 3-for-7 from the field, including a trio of 3-pointers, and was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line. For her part, Schoen tied her career best in scoring for the third time, hitting four triples, and was ISU's leading rebounder with six boards. Junior Kelsie Cooley added 12 points and went 4-for-4 from the free throw line.
Bradley was led by Sonya Harris' double-double with 10 points and 16 rebounds, while Katie Yohn chipped in 14 points. The Braves drop to 14-12 (10-6 MVC) on the year.
Indiana State took a fast 7-0 lead in the opening minutes on a jumper by Kelsie Cooley, free throws by Luna and a triple from Schoen. BU countered with three points, but a 15-6 run, including Luna's first trey of the game, kept the Sycamores out front. A long basket by Katie Yohn chipped the lead down to eight, but Luna answered with her second triple to bring ISU back and etched her own name in the ISU record books. Baskets by Deja Mattox and Moriah Hodge extended the game to 29-14, and a layup by Schoen and a jump shot from Cooley maintained the 15-point advantage. Mattox dropped in a final 3-pointer to end the half, and ISU hit the locker room with a 36-18 lead.
The Sycamores' offensive effort was quieted in the opening minutes of the second half, as ISU went on a 10-minute field goal drought. In that span, Bradley went on a 16-3 run led by four points from Leah Kassing. Schoen and Luna then fired in three consecutive 3-pointers, bringing the contest to 50-36.
Laurence Rivest grabbed an offensive rebound and followed with a layup to make it 52-39, but Yohn put up a three to bring it within 10. Two Bradley fouls sent Mattox and Luna to the line, and the duo each hit a pair of charity shots to stay ahead by 14. Schoen then nailed a 3-pointer at just under five minutes, and two successful Luna free throws, coupled with another trey by Cooley on an assist from Rivest made it 63-47.
BU attempted to come back in the closing minutes, but ISU would not surrender its double-digit lead, with Luna, Schoen and Cooley all hitting free throws. In the final play of the game, senior Sarah Paul dished an assist to waiting senior Laurence Rivest down court, closing the score at 70-57.
Indiana State returns to action on Thursday, March 4 at Drake, and tipoff is set for 8:05 (ET) at the Knapp Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
