TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Indiana State women's basketball team used a 26-9 third quarter to run past Northern Kentucky, 59-38, to open the regular season Friday night at the Hulman Center.
Senior Rhagen Smith led the way for the Sycamores (1-0) with a game-high 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field. The forward out of Sullivan, Indiana also pulled down seven rebound and collected three steals in 29 minutes of action.
Forward Ashley Taia scored 13 points in her first action of the 2016-17 campaign after missing the exhibition opener a week ago. Taia hit a trio of 3-pointers while picking up four steals and a pair of blocks.
In a tight contest through the first 20 minutes, both teams struggled offensively from the field. Northern Kentucky (0-1) shot just 31.8 percent from the field in the first half, taking a 17-17 tie into the locker room after outscoring the Sycamores 6-3 in the second quarter.
The Sycamores jumped out to an early 5-0 lead after a 3-pointer from Taia and a pair of free throws from Smith, but the Norse stormed back with an 11-0 run of their own to record their biggest lead of the night at 11-5.
The Sycamores would come out on fire in the third, shooting lights out at 62 percent on 10-of-16 from the field. Freshman Ashli O'Neal made her presence known in the third, scoring five of her seven points. Her steal and layup at the 2:29 mark sparked a 9-2 run to end the quarter.
Indiana State continued to pour it on in the fourth, outscoring the Norse 15-13 on their way to the team's second consecutive season opening win.
For the game, Indiana State outrebounded Northern Kentucky 48-43, with 15 of the rebounds coming on the offensive end. The Sycamores turned those chances into 11 points. ISU also edged UNK 13-7 on the fast break.
Four Sycamores ended the game with three or more steals, with Taia leading the team with four.
The team hits the road for the first time this season Monday when they travel to Boca Raton, Florida to face Florida Atlantic. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. at FAU Arena.
For the latest information on the Sycamore Women's Basketball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.Â
