HTML STATS | PDF STATS | ARCHIVED BROADCAST
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Host Illinois State pulled away in the second half to defeat the Morehead State women’s basketball team, 62-45, Friday night at the Shirk Center in the first round of the Preseason Women’s National Invitation Tournament.
Junior guard Terrice Robinson led the Eagles with 16 points, while sophomore guard Almesha Jones generated 15 points. MSU shot 50 percent in the first period but was held to just 25 percent in the second half when the Redbirds outscored the Eagles 31-19.
Illinois State got a team-best 20 points from Jamie Russell, while Maddie Oliver netted 12 points and seven rebounds. Octavia Crump pulled in a game-best 11 boards as the Eagles were out-rebounded 40-23. MSU tallied 14 steals and forced 20 ISU mistakes.
“I am really proud of our effort, especially defensively,” said Head Coach Tom Hodges. “Even when the score started to get a little out of hand, our energy never waned.”
Keyed by the trio of the triples by Robinson, the Eagles stayed with the Redbirds in the opening half. ISU opened on a 6-2 run but Robinson tied the contest at 11 at the 13:57 mark with her third three-ball. The hosts built their largest lead of the half thanks to a six-minute, 13-2 run. The Redbirds pulled ahead by nine, 24-15, with 6:42 left, but a three-pointer from Almesha Jones and a lay-in by Robinson cut it back to four, 24-20.
Russell knocked down her 13th point of the half with 1:36 left give her team a 31-26 advantage it took to the locker room. The Eagles shot 50 percent (11-of-22) in the period but coughed up the ball 12 times.
MSU trimmed the Redbird lead down to 48-41 with 8:28 left in the game, but ISU pulled ahead by double digits, eventually using the final margin as its largest lead.
MSU shot 37 percent for the game. ISU managed 42 percent.
Morehead State falls into the consolation round of the WNIT now. The Eagles will find out their next matchup on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles are guaranteed to play two games next weekend, starting on Friday.
