CARBONDALE, Ill. – Bella Finnegan led all scorers with 21 points Thursday night, but a slow fourth quarter proved costly for Indiana State in a 79-64 loss inside Banterra Center.
 
15 of Finnegan's 21 points came in the first half, as she shot 50 percent (8-for-16) from the field and 60 percent (3-for-5) from 3-point range. Chelsea Cain finished one rebound shy of a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Del'Janae Williams had nine points and four assists.
 
Indiana State shot better than 50 percent in the first half, which allowed the Sycamores to take a 42-40 lead into the intermission. Cain and Finnegan combined for 25 points in the opening 20 minutes, while the Sycamores took care of the ball well in the first two quarters. Indiana State had a 54-52 lead entering the fourth, but the Sycamores were unable to get into any rhythm in the fourth as SIU outscored the Trees 27-10 in the final period.
 
First Half
Williams opened Indiana State's scoring with a layup off a backdoor cut and Finnegan quickly added a pair of 3-pointers as the Trees took a 10-9 lead midway through. A 7-0 run which included an Anna McKendree 3-pointer gave Indiana State its largest lead of the half at 22-14, but SIU closed the first quarter on a 7-0 run of its own. The Trees took a slim 22-21 lead into the second.
 
Indiana State and Southern Illinois traded shots in the second, as neither team led by more than five in the quarter. SIU had a 36-31 lead with less than three minutes remaining in the second, but Indiana State closed the quarter strong. Baskets from Lily Niebuhr and Finnegan cut the deficit to one, and the Trees later took the lead on another Finnegan layup. Indiana State took a 42-40 lead into the intermission following a Finnegan 3-pointer inside the last 10 seconds.
 
Second Half
Unlike the first two quarters, the third was a slugfest. Cain gave the Sycamores a 46-45 lead with a jumper, and Hattie Westerfeld later made it 49-48 with a basket down low. Indiana State scored the final three points of the quarter on a Williams pull-up jumper and an Anderson free throw, as the Sycamores took a 54-52 lead into the fourth.
 
The fourth quarter proved to be the difference Thursday, as Southern Illinois outscored Indiana State 27-10 in the period. SIU opened the quarter on a 14-2 run, but a Finnegan three-point play cut it to 66-60 near the midway point of the quarter. That was the closest Indiana State got, though, as five 3-pointers in the final frame for the home side clinched the win for SIU.
 
Inside the Numbers

• Indiana State outscored or tied Southern Illinois in three of the four quarters. The lone quarter where the Sycamores were outscored was the fourth.
• Despite SIU's size advantage, Indiana State won the rebound margin 33-32.
• Indiana State's 32 paint points were the Sycmaores' most since scoring 32 against Evansville on Feb. 1.

 
News & Notes

• Bella Finnegan's 21-point outing was her second career 20-point game. She has scored in double-figures in four of the last five games.
• Three of Indiana State's five starters  played 30-plus minutes (Chelsea Cain, Bella Finnegan, Del'Janae Williams).
• Hattie Westerfeld's eight points were her most against a conference foe this season. Westerfeld and Lily Niebuhr combined for 12 of the Sycamores' 13 bench points.

 
Up Next
Indiana State's final road game is Saturday at Missouri State, with tipoff set for 2 p.m.
 
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