CHARLESTON, Ill. – Chloe Williams led a trio of Indiana State players in double-figures with 18 points Friday night, but the Sycamores couldn't overcome a sluggish start in a 73-60 defeat to Eastern Illinois inside Groniger Arena.
 
Saige Stahl finished one rebound shy of a double-double, tying her career high of 14 points while also adding nine boards, while Keslyn Secrist added 12 points to extend her streak of double-figure scoring games to eight. Williams and Secrist each pulled down seven rebounds, while Deja Jones had nine points and six assists.
 
Indiana State went more than eight minutes without a basket to start and trailed by double-digits within the first three minutes of the game. The Sycamores' deficit was as many as 19 in the first half, with turnovers and poor shooting plaguing the Blue and White early. Eastern Illinois' lead grew to as many as 26 midway through the third quarter, but the Trees didn't go down without a fight. Indiana State rattled off a 13-0 run in the fourth quarter to cut its deficit down to nine, but the Sycamores ultimately ran out of time to complete their comeback.
  
First Half
Indiana State started the game slow, with Eastern Illinois jumping out to a 22-3 lead thanks to nine first-quarter turnovers and 11 straight missed shots for the Sycamores. Jones and Williams made late baskets in the period, but the Trees trailed 23-7 after the opening 10 minutes.
 
Williams made an early layup, and Semie Brar knocked down a 3-pointer to cut into Eastern Illinois' lead in the opening stages of the second quarter, but the Panthers kept the pressure up to extend their lead out to 32-14. Two more layups from Williams pulled the Trees closer, and Jones, Stahl and Brar all converted from the charity stripe late. Indiana State outscored EIU in the second quarter, but the Trees faced a 38-23 deficit at the half.
 
Second Half
Back-to-back baskets from Secrist to start the third quarter cut Indiana State's deficit down to 38-27, but Eastern Illinois followed with a 15-0 run to take its largest lead of the game at 26. Indiana State closed the quarter strong, with three straight baskets from Secrist, including a three-point play, leading to a 7-0 run to close the frame. Despite the late run, Indiana State had its back against the wall and entered the fourth quarter trailing 53-34.
 
A basket down low from Stahl and a 3-pointer from Jones gave the Sycamores early life in the fourth quarter, before the Trees came roaring back in the middle stages of the period. Williams and Stahl combined for three straight baskets in a 90-second span, with Williams also adding four free throws in that span to make it 61-49. Two more free throws from Stahl capped off a 13-0 run for the Trees to get Indiana State within nine at 61-52. Free throws from Williams and Stahl kept it at a nine-point game with just over two minutes remaining, but that was as close as the Sycamores got. Stahl added another layup and Jones hit a pair of late free throws, but time ran out on the Trees in a 73-60 defeat.
 
News and Notes

• Indiana State forced a season-high 29 turnovers in Friday's game, turning those turnovers into 27 points on the other end. The Sycamores have forced 20-plus turnovers twice in the last three games.
• Indiana State had 32 points in the paint, marking the second time in the last three games that the Trees had 30-plus paint points.
• Indiana State's 26-point fourth quarter was the Sycamores' highest-scoring quarter this season.
• Indiana State shot 50 percent across the second half (11-for-22).
• The first quarter proved costly Friday night, with Indiana State outscoring Eastern Illinois 53-50 over the final 30 minutes.
• Indiana State's strong free throw shooting continued Friday, as the Sycamores shot 22-for-27 from the line for a season-best 81.5 percent mark from the charity stripe.
• Chloe Williams scored in double-figures for the third straight game and is averaging 19.0 points per game in that span.
• Keslyn Secrist has scored in double-figures in each of Indiana State's first eight games this season and is averaging a team-leading 14.4 points per game.
• Saige Stahl made her first start since the season opener in Friday's game.

 
Up Next
Indiana State takes part in the Eastern Kentucky MTE December 15-16 in Lexington, Kentucky, with the Sycamores set to face Northern Illinois and Eastern Kentucky during their time in the Bluegrass State.
 
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