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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State junior Angela Phillips scored 21 points, and nearly banked in a game-winning half court shot at the end of regulation, before Evansville controlled overtime in downing the Sycamores, 98-91 at Roberts Stadium. ISU drops to 9-5, 2-1 MVC while the Purple Aces improve to 10-4, 3-0 MVC.

Phillips hit 9-of-17 shots from the field to score her 21 points. With the score tied at 78 at the end of regulation, Phillips took the ball from the Evansville end line and heaved a half court shot as time expired. The shot was on a perfect line, banking off the back board and then off the front of rim before falling to the floor.

“Angela Phillips was an absolute warrior for us out there tonight,” head coach Jim Wiedie said. “We are so glad to have her in our program. We were just one shot away there in the last minute from sealing the win, and we couldn’t get it to fall. It is disappointing to lose, but we will regroup and get ready for another tough road game at Southern Illinois on Saturday.”

Evansville’s Rebekah Parker, who finished with 21 points, tied the game with 2.5 seconds left as she hit 1-of-2 free throws.

The Purple Aces scored each of the game’s first 11 points to take an early 11-0 lead with 17:27 left in the game. Forced to battle back, the Sycamores did just that to tie the game on four separate occasions, including at the half, 43-43.

ISU took its largest lead of the game when they held at 67-61 lead on an old fashioned 3-point play by freshman Maria Olsthoorn. In front of her hometown fans, Olsthoorn tied her career-high with 16 points in the game.

Evansville went on a 5-0 spurt to cut the Sycamore advantage to one, 67-66, with 7:52 left in the game, but Indiana State would not let Evansville lead again in regulation. Rachel Maenpaa connected on a pair of free throws with 2:22 left to take a 78-73 lead, but it would be the final points for ISU before overtime. 

Anaris Sickles hit a jumper with 1:46 left, and then Parker drained a lay-up to make it 78-77 with 56 seconds left. Freshman Kelsey Luna enjoyed a pair of wide-open, 3-point looks at the basket in the game’s final minute, but the shot would not fall for Indiana State. The Sycamores struggled to find their shot from long range in the game, hitting just 3-of-19 3-pointers in the game.

After the final Luna miss, Parker drained her second of two free throws to send the game into overtime, tied at 78.

Evansville went on a 9-0 run after Indiana State took an 85-84 lead in overtime on a free throw by Maenpaa. When they dust settled from the Purple Aces spurt, UE led 93-85 with just 42 seconds left in the game. UE scored 20 points in the extra stanza, and hit 8-of-9 free throws in overtime.

ISU finished the game with five players in double figures scoring led by Phillips’ 21. Maenpaa added 20, hitting 10-of-13 shots from the free throw line. Olsthoorn poured in her career-best tying 16 while Annie Bankhead scored 11 and Laura Rudolphi added 10.

Parker’s offensive rebound and putback in which she was fouled with 2.5 seconds left was a just one of 23 offensive boards the Purple Aces pulled down in the game. UE scored 28 points on second chance opportunities in the game.

The game was close throughout with 10 ties and 12 lead changes. Evansville is a perfect 3-0 in Valley play, winning two of those games in overtime (won Valley opener in OT at Wichita State last week).

ISU gets right back to work on Saturday, January 6 when they travel to Southern Illinois for a conference tilt with the Salukis. Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m. (ET). SIU dropped a home game this evening to Illinois State by a score of 84-72 to fall to 2-1 in Valley play.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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