TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State fifth-year guard
Jayci Allen struggled through the Sycamores' first four games, but Friday's contest against Wright State provided a spark for the sharpshooter. Allen came off the bench to score 23, her most in an Indiana State uniform, to lead the Trees past Wright State 73-66 inside Hulman Center.
Saroiya Ajomale added 16 points, five blocks and three assists, while
Kristen McMillan finished one rebound shy of a double-double with 13 points and nine boards.
Ashley Singhateh tacked on 12 points, three rebounds and four steals, while
Aaliyah Youngblood dished out a game-high six assists.
Singhateh had the hot hand early with six first quarter points, helping the Trees lead 21-16 after the opening frame. Wright State went on a run in the second quarter to go in front, but Allen knocked down a pair of threes and closed an 8-0 Sycamore run with a trey to put the home side up 37-32 at the break. Threes from Singhateh and Allen pushed the lead to double-digits in the third, while Ajomale went on a personal 8-0 run in the fourth as the Sycamores extended their advantage to 65-53. Wright State used a late run to pull within one possession, but the Trees iced the game from the free throw line and Allen went coast-to-coast off a late Raider turnover to seal the Sycamores' second straight win.
First Half
After a slow start to the opening quarter, things quickly heated up for the Sycamores. Two baskets from Singhateh along with a trey from Youngblood put the Trees up 11-4, with Ajomale and McMillan adding baskets just past the midway point to keep the Sycamores in front. Allen knocked down the first of her five threes on the night with just over two minutes left in the frame, converting a four-point play, while
Eanae Dagons beat the shot clock with a floater late in the quarter to give Indiana State a 21-16 lead after one.
Wright State came out firing in the second with an 8-0 run to go in front, but Allen answered with eight points in a two-minute span, including another trey, to put the Sycamores ahead 29-25. The visitors briefly pulled ahead, but Indiana State closed with an 8-0 run, courtesy of McMillan, Singhateh and Allen, to go in front 37-32 at the intermission.
Second Half
Indiana State quickly extended its lead to double-digits on a Youngblood layup and a transition three-ball from Singhateh inside the first minute of the third. Allen knocked down two more triples in the middle stages of the frame to give Indiana State a 52-41 lead, while McMillan connected on a corner three of her own inside the final minute. Wright State closed the quarter on a 5-0 run, though, pulling within four at 55-51 entering the fourth.
Ajomale broke through in the fourth with Indiana State's first 12 points of the frame, outscoring Wright State 12-5 on her own in the first six minutes of the period to push the Sycamores' lead out to 67-56. Wright State came roaring back, though, with the raiders going on a 10-2 run to make it a one-possession game inside the final minute. Ultimately the Sycamores were able to ice the game with Singhateh at the line, while Allen forced a turnover and went coast-to-coast for the final basket in a 73-66 win for the Blue and White.
News and Notes:
- Jayci Allen's 23 points and five 3-pointers were both career-high marks in an Indiana State uniform. Allen became the first Sycamore to record a 20-point game this season and the first Tree to knock down five threes since Kayla Smith did so on Senior Day last year against Southern Illinois.
- Indiana State finished plus-eight in turnover margin (23-15), marking the second straight game the Sycamores forced more than 20 turnovers. In addition, the Trees also finished with a season-high 39 points off turnovers, their most in a game since the 2021-22 season opener against Stephens College (Mo.).
- Indiana State finished with 26 fastbreak points, marking the second straight game that the Trees tallied at least 25 points in transition.
- Friday's game was the first this season that Indiana State did not tally more bench points than its opponent.
- Indiana State recorded seven blocks for the second straight game, with the Sycamores leading the MVC in blocks through the first two weeks of the season.
- Indiana State was nearly perfect from the charity stripe, going 15-for-16 (92.3 percent) on free throws.
- Wright State's 66 points were the lowest by a Sycamore opponent this season.
- Saroiya Ajomale became the first Sycamore to record five blocks in a game since Feb. 12, 2025 when Savannah White accomplished the feat against Bradley.
- Friday's win improved the Sycamores to 2-0 at home this season. Indiana State has won each of its last five non-conference home games dating back to the start of the 2025-26 season.
- Friday's starting lineup consisted of Ashley Singhateh, Aaliyah Youngblood, Kristen McMillan, Karsen Marshall, and Saroiya Ajomale. It marked the fourth different lineup combination in the first five games.
Up Next
Indiana State seeks its third straight win Tuesday night when the Sycamores host Bellarmine in the finale of their three-game homestand. Tipoff from Hulman Center is set for 7 p.m.
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