NORMAL, Ill. - The Indiana State women's basketball fell on the road at Illinois State on Friday night, as the home side came away with a 78-67 victory inside Redbird Arena.

The loss is the sixth straight for the Sycamores, dropping their record to 10-12 on the season and 4-6 in Missouri Valley Conference play. The Redbirds improved to 12-9 overall, 7-3 in league play.

The lead switched hands just one time on Friday night, as a fastbreak layup by freshman Natasha Zurek gave Indiana State an 11-9 lead with 14:49 remaining in the first half. Zurek's basket capped a 6-2 run for the Sycamores.

Illinois State responded with a 14-3 run to regain the lead, holding their largest lead of the first half at the end of the run, 23-14 with 9:49 left until the break.

The Redbirds led 34-30 at the half, as senior Brittany Schoen kept Indiana State within striking distance. The ISU senior knocked down three treys and tallied 15 points in the first half.

Indiana State remained within six points of Illinois State over the first nine minutes of the second half, cutting the home side's lead to one point on three separate occasions, but could never tie the score or take the lead.

The Redbirds slowly put space between themselves and the Sycamores, taking their first double-digit lead with 4:32 remaining, at 67-57, and knocked down their free-throws late to pick up the 78-67 victory.

Illinois State did a good job defensively on Schoen in the second half, allowing the senior to score just three points after her 15 in the first half to finish with a team-leading 18 points.

Three scorers joined Schoen in double-figures, with junior Taylor Whitley adding 15 points. Senior Shannon Thomas and freshman Racheal Mahan both scored 11 points as Mahan made her first career start on Friday.

Turnovers proved costly for the Sycamores, as the Redbirds turned 23 ISU miscues into 26 points. Senior Katie Broadway led Illinois State with a game-high 26 points.

Indiana State returns to Terre Haute and Hulman Center next weekend, hosting a pair of games. The Sycamores face the Bradley Braves on Friday, Feb. 10, before hosting the UNI Panthers on Sunday, Feb. 12.