TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Sycamore women's basketball put together their most complete game since 2018 on both ends of the floor to overpower Western Illinois on Monday evening, 78-51.
 
The Sycamores, who fell to the Leathernecks by 11 last season, improve to 3-1 on the year while WIU falls to 0-4.
 
Defensively, the Sycamores held Western Illinois to just 18-of-69 (26.1%) shooting from the field, including 9-of-33 (27.3%) from deep, the lowest allowed percentage since a 61-59 victory over UNI on Feb. 9, 2017 when the Panthers shot 25.8%. It was also the largest Sycamore victory since a 36-point drubbing of Davenport on Dec. 30, 2018.
 
On the other end of the floor, Indiana State connected on 33-of-65 (50.8%) from the floor and 12-of-24 (50.0%) from long distance. Essy Latu once again led the offensive effort with 18 points, with all six of her buckets coming from three-point land. She finished the game 6-of-9 from behind the arc, tied for the second-most threes made in a single game in Hulman Center history, while her 66.7% conversion rate is the 8th-best in Hulman Center history.
 
Elsewhere, the Trees dominated in every aspect of the game, holding a 51-36 advantage on the boards, 22-10 in assists and 6-1 in blocked shots. Hattie Westerfeld brought down eight rebounds to lead the Blue & White while Jamyra McChristine and Kallyn Stumbo had seven each.
 
While it was a good night from behind the three-point line, the Sycamores controlled the paint as well with a 34-18 advantage over the Leathernecks. Western Illinois was led by Danni Nichols with 12 points and two rebounds.
 
Indiana State never trailed in the game, sprinting out to a 10-0 lead at the 4:55 mark in the first quarter behind four points each from Caitlin Anderson and McChristine. The lead would eventually grow to 15-1 before WIU could pull within 11, 17-6, at the end of one.
 
That would be as close as the Leathernecks could get, however, as ISU blew the game open to start the second quarter behind a three-point barrage from Latu, Sommer Pitzer and Natalia Lalic to own a 28-6 lead at the 8:26 mark of the second period. Latu and Lalic, both Australia natives, combined for 10 triples in the contest.
 
The Sycamore lead would continue to grow over the remainder of the game, capping at 34 at the 3:24 mark of the fourth quarter after a bullet into the paint from Lalic for a Stumbo layup. Western Illinois would pull-off seven late points, but the Trees claimed the victory, 78-51.
 
Due to the postponement of the Chicago State game on Monday, Dec. 14, Indiana State now has a 10-day wait before hitting the road for Saint Louis, Mo., and a matchup with the Saint Louis Billikens.  
 
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.