STOCKTON, Calif. – Indiana State used a strong offensive third quarter to make it a seven-point game heading into the final frame, but Pacific was able to hold off the Sycamore rally for an 83-66 victory in their first game of the Tiger Turkey Tipoff.
 
ISU fell to 2-4 on the year following the loss while Pacific improved to 4-1.
 
Freshman Jasmine Elder was the offensive leader for the blue and white against Pacific, downing 16 points including a perfect 6-6 at the line.
 
It was another dominant performance from junior LeAndra Echi. Echi, a force on the boards, recorded 15 points to go along with a team-high nine rebounds. As a team, ISU and Pacific both ended with 39 rebounds.
 
The Tigers were strong from the field on 30-70 shooting (42.9%), but the Sycamores did manage to slow their three-point shooting to just 24% (6-25). On the other hand, the Trees shot 20-57 (35.1%) from the floor and 7-22 (31.8%) from range. From the line, ISU was impressive, hitting 19-25 for 76%.
 
Elsewhere on the court, Pacific and Indiana State both rejected three shots and the Tigers held the edge, 6-5, in the steals category. Pacific also ended with 19 assists to the Sycamores' 7.  
 
Pacific wasted no time getting things going on the offensive end and started the game on a 10-0 run which included a pair of triples from Sofie Tryggedsson. Echi managed to slice through the defense and knock down two free throws to end the run with 4:02 left in the period. Elder then provided much-needed offensive assistance off the bench, earning four points to keep the Trees within 10, 18-8, at the end of the first.
 
The blue and white began the second quarter with a quick 5-0 run, including a deep three from Del'Janae Williams, to pull within 18-13 with 8:26 remaining. Williams continued to hustle, chasing down a Tiger on a fastbreak for a block, but Pacific answered with four-straight to retake control, 22-13.
 
ISU managed to cut the lead back down to six, 24-18, but the Tigers again responded with a run, this time 11-0, to pull away for a 35-18 lead. Hattie Westerfeld managed to get to the line and end the run with a free throw, but the Tigers would end up taking a 40-26 lead into the break.
 
Much like the first half, Pacific started the second half on a 10-3 run to push the lead to 21 points, 50-29. The Sycamores, however, did not back down. Echi got the Sycamores' fire buring with a triple and then a steal and dish to Pearl Dean, finally followed by an old-fashioned three-point play to make it 50-37.
 
From there, it became the Marie Hunter and Elder show. The duo used a barrage of threes (two by Hunter, one by Elder), to make it 58-50 with 2:08 left in the third. Then, a jumper in the lane by Hunter pulled the Trees to within five, but the Tigers would take a 60-53 lead into the final frame.
 
Freshman Adrian Folks opened up the fourth quarter with an elbow jumper, once again pulling the Sycamores within five, but that's as close as ISU would get, as Pacific used a 16-0 run to pull away and open up a 76-55 lead. Despite the run, the Sycamores did not quite, as Elder and Pitzer both knocked down treys and Pitzer also picked a Tiger pocket for a lay-in to make it 78-64.
 
In the end, the Tigers were able to hold off the gritty Sycamores, 83-66.
 
Pacific was led by Brooklyn McDavid with 21 points and nine rebounds as well as Valerie Higgins with 18 points and 11 boards.
 
Indiana State will be back in action in the third-place game tomorrow at 4 p.m. ET against Cal State Northridge.
 
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.