MOLINE, Ill. – Mya Glanton led all players with a career-high 30 points Thursday afternoon, propelling Indiana State to a 66-54 win over Southern Illinois in the first round of Hoops in the Heartland.
 
Glanton's 30-point performance came on an efficient 12-for-16 shooting clip. Ella Sawyer added 12 points for the ninth-seeded Sycamores, including a perfect 10-for-10 mark from the free throw line, while Kiley Bess was also in double-figures for the Sycamores with 10.
 
Trailing by one entering the second quarter, Indiana State came alive with consecutive 3-pointers from Bella Finnegan and Bess and never trailed from the midway point of the second on. The Sycamores went down low early and often to Glanton, who had 19 in the first half, building a double-digit lead by halftime. Southern Illinois cut Indiana State's lead down to three by the end of the third quarter, but the Sycamores never wavered. Glanton outscored Southern Illinois on her own in the fourth quarter 11-9, as the Trees advanced to the quarterfinals for the second time in the last three seasons.
  
First Half
Glanton made her mark felt early with an open layup on the opening possession, and Sawyer added a jumper to put the Sycamores ahead early. Southern Illinois pulled ahead midway through the quarter, but six straight points from Glanton, who had 10 in the opening period, saw the Sycamores go ahead 12-11 late. Indiana State entered the second quarter facing a 13-12 deficit.
 
Baskets from Chelsea Cain and Bess helped the Sycamores tie things up at 16-all near the midway point of the quarter, and the Trees found their groove not long after. Back-to-back threes from Finnegan and Bess put the Sycamores up 22-19 with 4:36 to go in the quarter, and the Blue and White never trailed from that point forward. Glanton went on a personal 7-0 run, as Indiana State closed the half on a 17-4 run to take a 33-23 lead at the half.
 
Second Half
Bess got things started for the Sycamores in the third quarter with a 3-pointer, and a jumper from Chelsea Cain extended Indiana State's lead out to 39-28. Southern Illinois cut into Indiana State's lead in the third quarter, but Sawyer and Saige Stahl combined to go 6-for-6 from the charity stripe inside the last two minutes of the frame to keep the Sycamores in front. Bess added a late basket for the Sycamores, who led 48-45 entering the fourth quarter.
 
Indiana State went back to what had worked early in the game to start the fourth, as consecutive baskets from Glanton saw the Sycamores go up 52-45. Asia Donald took full advantage of an extra possession with a layup, and Glanton added another layup to make it 57-50 in favor of the Trees. Indiana State used a 12-2 run to ice the game, with Glanton and Sawyer accounting for 11 of the 12 points for the Sycamores in that span. Glanton outscored Southern Illinois 11-9 in the last 10 minutes of the game to seal a 66-54 opening round win for Indiana State.
 
News and Notes

• Mya Glanton's 30 points were a career-high, and marked the first 30-point game for a Sycamore since Del'Janae Williams had 30 against Bradley in March 2023.
• Ella Sawyer's 10-for-10 mark from the free throw line was a career-best, and her 12-point outing marked her 10th game scoring in double-figures this season.
• Indiana State was plus-15 in rebound margin (39-24) Thursday and had 14 offensive rebounds, the most for the Sycamores since registering 19 against Murray State on Jan. 11.
• Saige Stahl played a massive role in the Sycamores' opening round win with three points, a career-high seven rebounds and two assists. She was plus-eight, the best of any non-starter on either team, and played a career-high 21 minutes.
• Mya Glanton has a tendency to show up in big moments for the Sycamores. Her two highest-scoring games in her career have both come in first round wins at the MVC Tournament (26 vs. Evansville in the 2022 first round, 30 vs. Southern Illinois in the 2024 first round).
• Despite having more turnovers Thursday (27-23), Indiana State had a 24-19 advantage in points off turnovers.
• After being eliminated from the MVC Tournament by Southern Illinois in each of the last three seasons, Indiana State exacted revenge Thursday by knocking out the Salukis. Indiana State went 2-1 against Southern Illinois this season after not recording a win in the series since 2019 prior to this season.
• Indiana State advanced to the quarterfinals for the second time in the last three seasons, after going from 2015-21 without a win in the conference tournament. Indiana State is 2-2 in its last four conference tournament games.

Bracket Advancement

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Postgame Press Conference


Up Next
Indiana State advances to the quarterfinals of the MVC Tournament, where it will face top-seeded Drake Friday at 1 p.m.
 
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