NORMAL, Ill. – Indiana State shot nearly 50 percent from the field in the second half Sunday afternoon, but a slow start proved costly for the Sycamores in a 72-64 loss to Illinois State inside Redbird Arena.
 
Natalia Lalic led the Sycamores with 18 points, 16 of which came in the second half. Del'Janae Williams added 14 points and six assists, while Marie Hunter scored 10. Mya Glanton had a team-high seven rebounds in the setback.
 
Indiana State trailed by as many as 17 after a slow start to the game. The Sycamores were unable to get into a rhythm on the offensive end in the early going, shooting under 40 percent in each of the first two quarters. The Sycamores picked up the intensity in the second half, forcing 12 turnovers in the final 20 minutes and cutting it to a two-possession game late, but ran out of time to complete the comeback.
 
First Half
Glanton opened the scoring with a jumper for the Sycamores, but the Redbirds countered with a 3-pointer and never trailed for the remainder of the contest. Illinois State went on a 10-0 run as Indiana State went nearly four minutes without a basket until another Glanton jumper ended the Sycamore drought. A pair of late baskets by Arianna Smith and Williams cut the Sycamore deficit to 19-13 at the end of the first quarter.
 
Illinois State opened the second quarter with an 11-2 run, as Indiana State made just one of its first six shots to begin the quarter. The Sycamore defense clamped down, however, and kept the Redbirds off the board for the final 5:18 of the half. Hunter made a pair of shots midway through the quarter and Caitlin Anderson connected on a pair of late free throws, but the Sycamores still found themselves down 36-25 at the half.
 
Second Half
Indiana State cut the deficit to single digits midway through the third quarter as Lalic started to heat up from the floor. The senior sharpshooter had 12 points in the period, including a pair of 3-pointers, making five shots in a span of six minutes. A late Lalic 3-pointer was countered by a quick 5-0 Redbird run, as Illinois State extended its lead to 57-43 heading into the final frame.
 
The Sycamores came out firing on all cylinders in the fourth quarter, opening the period with an 11-2 run in the first 4:30. Lalic, Anderson and Williams combined for all 11 points during the run, while the Sycamores forced five turnovers in that span to cut the deficit down to 60-54. Indiana State got even closer late in the quarter after a basket by Williams cut it to a 62-57 game, but Illinois State was able to make eight free throws in the final 2:20 to survive the Sycamore rally.
 
Inside the Statistics

• Natalia Lalic's 18 points were her second-most in a game this season, behind only her career-high 20 at Drake.
• Indiana State forced 18 turnovers and had a 19-4 advantage in points off turnovers.
• Del'Janae Williams scored in double-figures for the seventh time in nine Valley games this season.

 
News & Notes

• Mya Glanton had a career-high three blocks in the loss.
• Indiana State is responsible for Illinois State's two games with the most turnovers in Valley play, forcing 18 in both meetings this season.
• Sunday's game capped a swing of three road games in a span of six days for the Sycamores.

 
Up Next
Indiana State returns home to face Southern Illinois Wednesday evening at 6 p.m.
 
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