CHARLESTON, Ill. – It was all Indiana State from start to finish Monday night in Charleston as the Sycamores ran past Eastern Illinois, 88-61, at Lantz Arena.
 
Three players for Indiana State finished with 16 points or more in the contest. Junior Ashley Taia led the way for the Sycamores (3-3), finishing with a game-high 19 points to go along with three rebounds, a pair of assists and a block and steal.
 
Rhagen Smith scored a season-best 16 points while grabbing six rebound. Wendi Bibbins was one rebound shy of her third double-double of the season with 16 points and nine rebounds. Tierra Webb set a new career high with six assists while adding eight points.
 
Eastern's Grace Lennox finished with 16 points to pace the Panthers. Erica Brown added 15 points and six rebounds.
 
Indiana State jumped out to a 29-19 lead following the first quarter thanks in part to a steady flow 3-pointers falling. Coming into the game, ISU's game high for three's in a game was eight. The Sycamores hit six in the first quarter alone.
 
With a 19-10 lead at the first media timeout of the game, it marked the first time this season that ISU had led at the mark in five games.
 
As a team, Indiana State shot 58.6 percent (17-29) from the field in the first half as they went into the locker room leading the Panthers, 43-33. Taia led Indiana State in the half with 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting, including a pair of 3-pointers. Smith added 11 points and five rebounds.
 
Six 3-pointers helped Indiana State to halftime lead, but the Sycamore post players made their presence known as well, putting in 16 points in the paint. ISU finished with 36 points in the paint in the game.
 
The Indiana State bench was on fire, outscoring their EIU (4-3) counterparts, 26-17. Junior Freja Christensen scored a career-high nine points on a trio of shots from downtown in seven minutes of play. Brooklyn Artis scored eight and dished out three assists.
 
ISU outrebounded the Panthers 33-26, including eight offensive rebounds leading to 14 second chance points. The Sycamore offense kept rolling in the second half, outscoring EIU 45-28. ISU scored a season-best 88 points and set new marks in field goal percent (60.3) on 35-of-58 as well as scoring (88).
 
The Sycamores will return home to the Hulman Center for the first time since November 11th as they play host to IUPUI beginning at 5:30 ET Wednesday followed by the Sycamore men who welcome Northern Illinois beginning at 8 p.m.
 
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.