TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State's three-game homestand got off on the wrong foot Friday evening, as the Sycamores dropped a 65-51 contest to preseason MVC favorite Belmont inside Hulman Center.
 
Anna McKendree and Del'Janae Williams led the Sycamores with 13 points apiece, while McKendree also had a game-high eight rebounds. The backcourt duo combined for more than half of Indiana State's 51 points while also producing the team's leader in rebounds, assists and steals.
 
Indiana State took an early lead following 3-pointers by Bella Finnegan and Williams, but the Sycamores played from behind for most of the game. The Trees were within two possessions for most of the first half and kept within distance for most of the game, but a 14-2 Belmont run spanning the end of the third and start of the fourth quarters put the game out of reach for the Sycamores.
 
First Half
Chelsea Cain opened the Sycamores' scoring with a putback layup and 3-pointers from Finnegan and Williams put the Blue and White ahead 8-6 early in the first quarter. Belmont responded with a 6-0 run, though, and led for the remainder of the contest. A floater by Williams late in the quarter cut the deficit down to a point at 17-16, but Belmont hit a 3-pointer with less than 15 seconds remaining to lead 20-16 after the opening frame.
 
McKendree hit a 3-pointer to start the second quarter for the Sycamores, but the early 20-19 deficit was the closest Indiana State got for the remainder of the game. Baskets down low by Adrian Folks and Lily Niebuhr, the latter being the freshman's first points inside Hulman Center, cut it to 30-26 with three minutes remaining in the half. Belmont finished the half strong, though, and took a 35-28 lead into the halftime break.
 
Second Half
Baskets by Williams and McKendree in the first 90 seconds of the third quarter helped Indiana State chip away at its deficit, but Belmont countered with a 6-0 run to push its advantage into double-digits early on. Hattie Westerfeld and Mya Glanton each made layups down low to pull the Sycamores within seven at 46-39, but Belmont closed the quarter on an 8-1 run to take a 54-40 lead to the fourth.
 
Belmont's momentum carried into the final period, as the Bruins started the quarter on a 6-0 run to push their lead to 60-41. McKendree scored eight points in the quarter and Finnegan also added a midrange basket, but it wasn't enough for the Sycamores in a 65-51 defeat.
 
Inside the Numbers

• Indiana State's 51 points tied a season-low in points scored.
• Not only did Anna McKendree and Del'Janae Williams combine for more than half of Indiana State's points, the duo combined to shoot 50 percent from the field (11-for-22) and accounted for 55 percent (11 out of 20) of the Sycamores' field goals.
• Indiana State's 23 second half points were its fewest in a second half in conference play and tied for its fewest in any half of MVC play this season.
• The 26 combined fouls in Friday's game were the fewest in a game featuring Indiana State this season.

 
News & Notes

• Del'Janae Williams currently sits 69 points away from reaching 1,000 for her career. Williams would be the 29th player in program history to hit the milestone.
• Indiana State remains in search of its first home MVC win, as all three of the Sycamores' conference wins this season have come on the road.

 
Up Next
Indiana State's three-game homestand continues Sunday at 1 p.m. when the Sycamores play host to Murray State for its Alumni Weekend game.
 
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