CHICAGO – Indiana State women's basketball won their fourth-straight game Saturday night in Chicago as the Sycamores ran past Loyola, 48-38, inside Gentile Arena. ISU improved to 10-6 on the season and 4-1 in Missouri Valley Conference play. Loyola fell to 2-14 overall and 1-4 in the MVC.
 
Ashley Taia and Rhagen Smith each scored in double-digits to lead the Sycamores. Taia reached double-figures for the 12^th time this season after dropping a game-high 17 points while grabbing eight rebounds. Smith fell just one rebound shy of a double-double after scoring 12 points and grabbing nine boards.
 
Junior Wendi Bibbins showed her strength throughout the contest, getting tough shots to fall in the paint as she added eight points and seven rebounds to go along with a pair of blocks in the game.
 
It was a slow start for the Sycamores as the squad shot just 19 percent (3-of-19) from the field, but trailed by only two points at 10-8 following the first quarter. Indiana State would get the offense going in the second, outscoring the Ramblers 14-9 in the frame to take a 22-19 lead into the locker room.
 
Indiana State really got things going in the third quarter, outscoring Loyola, 16-5 to pull away for good.
 
Free throws proved to be an area that Loyola was able to take advantage of throughout the game as the Ramblers hit 10-of-12 from the charity stripe in the first half alone, led by Kaitlyn Williams who was perfect on four shots from the line. For the game, Loyola shot 19-of-22 from the free-throw line.
 
The Sycamores held the Ramblers to just 21.1 percent (4-of-19) shooting in the first half and 22.5 percent (9-of-40) for the game. ISU held the Ramblers to 1-of-10 to finish the half and did not allow a field goal in the final 6:58 of the second quarter.
 
Indiana State outrebounded Loyola, 44-33 in the game including a 16-4 advantage on the offensive glass. ISU turned those rebounds into nine second chance points. An area that the Sycamores really capitalized was converting turnovers into points, turning 20 LU miscues into 21 points.
 
Katie Salmon led the way for Loyola with 14 points and five rebounds.
 
Indiana State returns to action next weekend as they travel to Iowa to take on Northern Iowa and Drake Friday and Sunday. Both games will be streamed live on The Valley On ESPN.
 
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.