MOLINE, Ill. – Ashli O'Neal scored 26 points and Tamara Lee added a career-high 25 points but the hot-shooting Sycamores couldn't stop an even hotter-shooting Valparaiso squad in a 79-77 battle in the opening round of Hoops in the Heartland, the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
 
For O'Neal, 20 of her 26 points came in the second half as she tried to keep the eighth-seeded Sycamores (11-19) within striking distance of Valparaiso (8-23). And it almost worked. She was nearly perfect from the field – 10 of 12 – as her 83 percent shooting mark ties for the second best in a single game in Indiana State history.
 
But while O'Neal and the Sycamores posted their best shooting percentage (44.6 percent) since February 1, Valparaiso was even hotter. The Crusaders, the Valley's No. 9 seed, shot nearly 52 percent from the floor and 40 percent from beyond the arc, hitting eight 3-pointers. Six of those came in a pivotal third quarter.
 
Part of the challenge for Indiana State came to a return to old habits. The Sycamores committed 21 turnovers – the most since Jan. 25 – and allowed the Crusaders to score 25 points off those 21 turnovers.
 
Despite all that, Indiana State nearly came back from a six-point deficit in the fourth quarter with under 40 seconds to go. It started with an O'Neal layup to cut the deficit to four and followed with the Trees forcing a 10-second call on the Crusaders.
 
Regan Wentland would hit a layup with 10 seconds left, making it a two-point game then Lee would grab a steal on the in-bound pass. With a chance to tie for Indiana State, Valpo's Shay Frederick would force a steal and not allow ISU the chance to force extra time.
 
The Crusaders were led by Meredith Hamlet's 25 points while Valpo had five players in all reach double figures.
 
Ty Battle led all players with 11 rebounds and her 10 points gave the sophomore forward her sixth career double-double.
 
With the loss, Indiana State concludes the 2018-19 season, the first under the direction of Vicki Hall.
 
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.