CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Chloe Williams tallied a career-high 22 points Saturday evening, as Indiana State overcame a double-digit deficit on the road to defeat Southeast Missouri State 68-65 inside the Show Me Center.
 
Keslyn Secrist added 13 points for her sixth straight double-figure scoring output, while Mia Simpson had eight points, including the go-ahead basket, six rebounds and four steals in her return to the Sycamore lineup. Saige Stahl pulled down 11 rebounds for the Trees, while Williams added six boards, four steals and three blocks as part of her career-best night on the road.
 
Indiana State led after the opening quarter, before a slow second frame saw the Trees down by as many as 11. Williams and Secrist combined for 25 points in the final 20 minutes, while Simpson's coast-to-coast drive inside the final minute helped Indiana State overcome their early woes to win on the road.
  
First Half
Indiana State started slow before a pair of free throws from Simpson and a three-ball from Williams knotted the score at 7-7. Secrist gave the Trees their first lead of the game with a layup, with a basket from Williams extending the advantage. The Sycamores took a 13-12 lead into the second quarter.
 
Semie Brar got on the scoresheet early in the second quarter with a basket and a pair of free throws, but a 12-0 run for SEMO saw the Trees trailing by double-digits midway through the period. Baskets from Williams and Saige Stahl cut into the deficit, and Deja Jones made a late layup to pull Indiana State within seven, 32-25, at the intermission.
 
Second Half
Indiana State came out of the locker room strong, as Williams hit a layup and Secrist connected on a 3-pointer to pull the Trees within a pair. Baskets from Jones and Stahl kept the deficit at two, 37-35, midway through the period, with Secrist and Williams adding to the tally with buckets just past the halfway point of the third. Williams drained a triple to put Indiana State back in front, with Queen Ruffin adding another three-ball late, but Southeast Missouri State used a late run to take a 53-50 lead into the fourth. 
 
Free throws from Secrist and a fastbreak basket from Simpson got the Sycamores back within a point early in the fourth quarter, with Ruffin and Stahl adding free throws to keep it a one-possession game. Williams tacked on a layup, but consecutive baskets from the home side saw Indiana State facing a 65-60 deficit with a minute left. Secrist converted on a layup, before Indiana State's defensive pressure turned into late baskets from Williams and Simpson, the latter giving the Sycamores a 66-65 lead. Indiana State forced a turnover inside the last 10 seconds and Secrist iced the game from the line, as the Sycamores closed out a 68-65 win.
 
News and Notes

• Chloe Williams had a career-high 22 points, hitting multiple 3-pointers in a game for the first time in her career and going 9-for-14 from the field.
• Indiana State won the rebound battle for the fourth time in six games this season, finishing plus-four in rebound margin.
• Indiana State overcame a double-digit comeback for the first time in nearly a year, with the Sycamores down by 11 midway through the second quarter.
• Keslyn Secrist scored in double-figures for the sixth straight game and has scored in double-digits in every game this season.
• Saige Stahl pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds and has registered double-digit rebounds in three of the last four games.
• Indiana State's success from the charity stripe continued, with the Sycamores going 22-for-28 from the free throw line (78.6 percent).
• Indiana State had a season-best 15 steals, with Mia Simpson, Deja Jones and Chloe Williams each recording four steals.
• Indiana State closed the game with an 8-0 run inside the final minute.

 
Up Next
Indiana State's long road trip continues Tuesday night at Marquette, with tipoff from Milwaukee slated for 7:30 p.m.
 
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