TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Bella Finnegan led Indiana State with 10 points Saturday afternoon, but four Ohio players in double-figures paced the Bobcats to a 74-62 win over the Sycamores inside Hulman Center.
 
Ella Sawyer had nine points off the bench, while Chelsea Cain and Anna McKendree had eight apiece with Natalia Lalic and Mya Glanton each adding seven. McKendree also had eight rebounds and five assists.
 
After a high-octane opening quarter, Indiana State struggled to get in a rhythm as Ohio State led for the entirety of the last 30 minutes. The Sycamores got within one early in the third quarter following a McKendree 3-pointer, but an efficient second half from the visitors gave the Sycamores their second straight loss.
 
First Half
Glanton opened the scoring for the Sycamores with a layup, finishing through contact to give the Sycamores an early lead. In what became a back-and-forth opening 10 minutes, McKendree and Sawyer each hit 3-pointers to tie the score at 15-all midway through the quarter. The Sycamores went ahead lay following layups by Finnegan and Sawyer, but a late 4-0 run gave Ohio a 22-21 lead after one quarter.
 
Ohio's momentum continued into the second quarter, as the Bobcats opened on a 7-0 run to take a 29-21 lead. A 3-pointer by Finnegan, followed by a three-point play by Cain off a Finnegan steal cut the deficit to two, but the Bobcats answered with a 3-pointer of their own. Adrian Folks made a late layup, but Ohio took a 36-32 lead into the locker room.
 
Second Half
McKendree hit a 3-pointer from the wing to make it 36-35 early in the quarter, but an Ohio run pushed the Sycamore deficit up to eight at 45-37. Indiana State got within three following a 3-pointer by Finnegan and a pair of free throws by Glanton but was unable to get closer. A strong shooting performance in the third quarter saw Ohio ahead 60-51 heading into the fourth.
 
Ohio's lead reached double-digits for the first time early in the fourth quarter, but Indiana State stayed within reach. Baskets by Sawyer and Lalic cut the Bobcat lead to 69-60, but Indiana State missed its last three shots, all from 3-point range, as Ohio earned its first win of the season by a 74-62 margin.
 
Inside the Numbers

• Bella Finnegan finished in double-figures for the first time in her career with 10 points.
• Ohio's 12 turnovers were the fewest forced by Indiana State this season, though the Sycamores still had 20 points off those 12 turnovers.
• Indiana State's 12 free throws made and 80 percent clip from the charity stripe (12-for-15) were both its best in a game this season..

 
News & Notes

• Indiana State's starting lineup changed for the first time this season, with Natalia Lalic drawing the start for the first time this season.
• Saturday's game between Ohio and Indiana State was the first between the schools since the 1973-74 season. The series is tied at one win apiece following Ohio's win.
• Indiana State dropped to 1-1 against Mid-American Conference schools this season, with a trip to Western Michigan still remaining on the non-conference schedule.

 
Up Next
Indiana State remains at home to face Chicago State Tuesday at 6 p.m.
 
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