OXFORD, Ohio – Junior Ashley Taia scored a season high 23-points to help the Sycamores complete a 17-point comeback at Miami (OH) Saturday afternoon inside Millett Arena.
Forward Wendi Bibbins was the only other Sycamore to eclipse double-digits, tying a season best with 16 points, including 10 in the first half alone to go along with seven rebounds. Taia also proved big on the boards, collecting a seven while dishing out four assists. Rhagen Smith scored seven and grabbed five boards for the Sycamores.
Indiana State (4-4) would outrebound the Redhawks 37-30, including 11 on the offensive end that led to eight second chance points. ISU improved to 4-0 on the season when outrebounding the opponent.
Miami (2-5) started shooting lights out at 55.6 percent (10-of-18) in the first quarter while ISU was held to 5-of-13. The Sycamores would kick up the defensive pressure as the game carried onward, limiting Miami to just six field goals in the second half after the Redhawks recorded 15 in the first half. MU would finish the game shooting 35.6 percent (21-of-59) while ISU hit 22 of their 48 shots for a 45.8 percent mark.
Trailing by as many as 17-points in the second quarter, the Sycamores finished the final seven minutes of the first half on a 16-4 run to pull within five points of Miami. Taia capped off the second with a steal and layup as time expired by to go into the locker room down just 37-32.
Bibbins, a Harvey, Louisiana scored seven points during the stretch while sophomore Tierra Webb added five.
Indiana State carried over that momentum into the third quarter, outscoring the home standing Redhawks, 20-7. A 9-0 run to end the third, including a Maryam Wilcher jumper, a Regan Wentland 3-pointer as the shot clock expired and a driving layup by Taia in the final possession as the quarter came to a close.
After Indiana State pushed its lead to eight points in the fourth, Miami made a 6-0 run to cut the lead to 57-54 with 3:08 left. Neither team would put score a field goal but ISU would connect on five free throws which the team struggled with in their final outing against IUPUI. Freshman Ashli O'Neal connected on two from the charity stripe before Bibbins and Webb closed out the game at the line. As a team, ISU was 80 percent (12-of-15) from the line.
Lauren Dickerson led the Redhawks with 13 points and five assists while Jazz Smith scored 11.
The Sycamores return to action Tuesday when they travel to Saint Louis for a matchup with the Billikens at 8 p.m. ET.
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.