NORMAL, Ill.—The Illinois State University women’s basketball team remained perched atop the Missouri Valley Conference standings on Saturday with their league-leading sixth-straight victory, as the Redbirds posted a 75-46 victory over the visiting University of Evansville Purple Aces at Redbird Arena in Normal, Illinois.

 

“There is a reason why Illinois State is in first place in our league right now,” said UE head coach Misty Murphy. “They are a smart, well-balanced, well-disciplined, well-coached team which had a message to send tonight, and they delivered that message loud and clear.

 

“We, meanwhile, are a young team which is still trying to grasp the concept of what it takes to compete night-in and night-out in the Missouri Valley Conference and be successful.”

 

The Redbirds, who have averaged over 76 points per game in its winning streak, jumped to a 40-24 halftime lead thanks to 46.7 percent shooting from the floor (14-of-30) and 90.9 percent shooting from the free throw line (10-for-11). Illinois State used a 14-4 run midway through the first half to turn a five-point game into a 15-point ISU lead, as five different Redbirds scored in the run.

 

Illinois State would then put the game out of reach, as the Redbirds scored 13 of the second-half’s first 17 points to build a 25-point cushion. The Redbirds hit six of their first seven shots in the second half in extending their lead, which would grow to as large as 33 points in the second half.

 

Senior guard Maggie Krick paced the Illinois State offense with a game-high 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the floor. Senior center Nicolle Lewis and forward Ashleen Bracey each pitched in 12 points, while sophomore guard Katie Broadway joined them in double-figures with 10 points. Senior guard Amy Gallagher paced Evansville with 11 points, while freshman forward Samantha Heck chipped in nine points and seven rebounds off of the UE bench.

 

With the victory, Illinois State improves to 13-5 overall and 6-1 in the MVC. Evansville, meanwhile, falls to 3-15 overall and 0-7 in the Valley with the loss. The Purple Aces will now return home to Roberts Stadium to begin a season-long four-game homestand on Thursday, as UE will welcome Wichita State (12-6 overall, 4-3 MVC) to town for a 7:05 p.m. contest. Thursday’s game can be heard live on 91.5 F.M.-WUEV.