MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Indiana State overcame a double-digit deficit on the road Saturday afternoon, defeating Central Michigan 73-65 inside McGuirk Arena.
 
Bella Finnegan led a balanced scoring effort with 18 points, while Ella Sawyer, Kiley Bess and Asia Donald added 12 points each. Sawyer dished out a season-best seven assists, while Savannah White led the Sycamores with nine rebounds.


Indiana State got off to a cold start from the floor, as Central Michigan built a 10-point advantage midway through the second quarter. Donald kept the Sycamores within reach with 12 first-half points, and the Trees got things going in the last 20 minutes. Indiana State outscored Central Michigan 43-29 in the second half, with Finnegan scoring 15 in the half. A 10-0 Sycamore run to open the fourth quarter proved to be the difference, and the Trees were strong from the charity stripe to seal their win on the road.
  
First Half
Mya Glanton opened the scoring for the Sycamores with a jumper down low, but the opening frame was not filled with much offense from either side. A layup from Donald and a 3-pointer from Bess put the Sycamores in front late in the quarter, but Central Michigan closed the quarter with three free throws to take a 12-10 lead into the second.
 
Central Michigan came out firing in the second, opening the quarter on a 6-0 run before Donald knocked down a 3-pointer to end it. The Chippewas pushed their lead to double-digits later in the quarter, but Donald kept the Sycamores within reach with 10 points in the period. Saige Stahl got the Sycamores within four with a layup, but back-to-back treys saw the home side go ahead by 10 late in the quarter. Sawyer and Finnegan knocked down late three-balls for the Blue and White, as Indiana State cut its deficit to 36-30 at the break.
 
Second Half
A pair of baskets from Chelsea Cain, sandwiched by a 3-pointer from Finnegan, helped the Sycamores cut it to a one-possession game early in the third quarter. Finnegan connected on another triple to make it a one-point game at 41-40, and Glanton added a pair of baskets down low to keep it a one-point game midway through. Back-to-back baskets from Finnegan, along with a 3-pointer from Bess, put the Sycamores ahead for the first time since the opening stages of the game, and Indiana State entered the fourth quarter deadlocked at 53.
 
Cain put the Trees ahead for good with a 3-point play, and 3-pointers from Finnegan and Bess helped cap a 10-0 run to begin the fourth for the Sycamores. Finnegan added another basket midway through to make it 65-55 Indiana State, and the Sycamores knocked down free throws down the stretch to stay in front. Sawyer went 7-for-8 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter to help Indiana State close out a 73-65 win on the road.
 
News and Notes

• Indiana State had four players score in double-figures for the third time in the last four games.
• Indiana State grabbed 24 offensive rebounds, the Sycamores' most in a game this season. It marked the first time since the 2022-23 season opener against Saint Louis that Indiana State had 20 or more offensive rebounds in a game.
• Indiana State was plus-seven in rebound margin (50-43), with the Sycamores' 50 rebounds the most for the team in a road game this season.
• Indiana State knocked down a season-high 10 3-pointers Saturday, connecting at a 40 percent clip.
• The Sycamores' 10 turnovers were a season-low, with Indiana State finishing plus-nine (19-10) in turnover margin. Indiana State converted CMU's 19 turnovers into 16 points on the other end.
• Free throws proved to be a major difference Saturday, as Indiana State went 19-for-25 (76.0 percent) from the line compared to a 14-for-32 clip (43.8 percent) for Central Michigan.
• Indiana State improved to 3-1 this season when wearing blue uniforms.

 
Up Next
Indiana State plays its final home game of the non-conference slate December 10 against Southeast Missouri State. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m.
 
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