Box Score

The never-quitting and tenacious University of Evansville women’s basketball team chased and chased in the second half but could not catch the visiting Indiana State Sycamores Thursday night at Roberts Stadium, falling, 75-67. The Aces fell to 7-12 overall and 2-6 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while ISU improved to 10-9 overall and 4-4 in the MVC.

Sophomores Meagan Collins and Samantha Heck led the Aces’ attack with 15 points each, followed by junior Briyana Blair’s 14 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds.

Two throw-ahead layups sandwiched around junior Chelsea Falkenstein’s free throw, and three by senior Stephanie Bamberger put the Aces up 8-0 to start the game. However, the Sycamores inched their way back, taking the lead, 16-15, with 10:59 to go in the first half on Taylor Whitley’s jumper.

On the next possession, Collins regained the advantage for the Aces and UE went on to hold off ISU until the 4:14 mark when the Sycamores went up 26-25.

Miranda Liles’ three-point play down low put the Aces up 31-30 with 15 seconds remaining in the half, but Brittany Schoen answered with a three with five seconds on the clock, giving ISU a 33-31 advantage into the break.

In the opening period, Evansville and Indiana State were almost symmetrical, both making 12 field goals and three three-pointers. The difference was at the free throw line where the Sycamores shot a perfect 6-for-6, while the Aces hit 4-of-6 attempts.

Opening the second stanza, Blair knocked down a three of her own, allowing the Aces to take the lead again, 34-33. But, three more lead changes over the next three minutes and a 39-39 tie on Katie Ellerson’s make from behind the arc led up to the Sycamores’ 9-4 run, stretching the gap to five, 50-45, with 12:58 remaining.

Again, the Aces fought back. They got within two, 57-55, on Bamberger’s three-pointer at the 7:36 mark and then within one (60-59) with 4:13 to go on Heck’s two free throws. Shannon Thomas, ISU’s leading scorer with 17 points on the night, fouled out of the game with 4:03 remaining, so the Aces had a chance to take advantage of the Sycamores’ loss.

However, Indiana State stretched the gap to five points before Evansville was forced to intentionally foul in the closing 40 seconds. ISU hit 8-of-8 from the line as the seconds ticked down. The Aces responded with a few quick layups, but it was not enough in the end.

ISU finished 17-for-19 (89.5 percent) from the free throw line, and shot 49.1 percent from the field, and 35.3 percent from three, as the Aces shot 40.3 percent from the field, 30 percent from three, and 73.3 percent from the line.

Evansville forced ISU to commit 16 turnovers compared to its 12 and stole the ball eight times. However, the Sycamores won the battle on the glass, out-rebounding the Aces 39-26.

ISU had five players reach double-figures, led by Thomas’ 17 and Whitley’s 16 points.

The Aces are back in action Saturday when they continue MVC play, hosting Illinois State at 2:00 p.m. CST at Roberts Stadium. The UE men’s team is also home Saturday, taking on Southern Illinois at 7:05 p.m.