Box Score

NORMAL, Ill. – Down by as much as 12 points in the opening period, the University of Evansville women’s basketball team battled back to get within one in the second half, but Illinois State ultimately prevailed, 49-39, Thursday night at Redbird Arena. With the loss the Aces are now 8-18 overall and 3-12 in the Valley, while the Redbirds improved to 18-8 overall and 10-5 in the MVC.

Junior Briyana Blair and freshman Katie Ellerson led the Aces with 10 points apiece, while junior Chelsea Falkenstein led UE on the boards with eight rebounds.

In the first half, the Redbirds scored on the first possession of the game and jumped out to a 9-2 lead at the 16:26 mark. The Aces cut the deficit to five on freshman Khristian Hart’s fast break layup with 10:20 to go, but Illinois State responded immediately with back-to-back layups on a put-back and turnover to make it 17-8.

The Redbirds led by as much as 12 points with 4:01 to go, but Blair drove to the basket on an elbow screen as the seconds waned to cut the deficit to eight, and sent the Aces into the break down, 26-18.

UE shot 36.7 percent (8-for-24) in the opening period, and 14.3 percent from beyond the arc (1-for-7), while the Redbirds hit 36.7 percent (11-for-30) from the floor and 33.3 percent (1-for-3) from three. Illinois State scored 12 points off the Aces’ 15 first-half turnovers, as the Redbirds gave up the ball just five times.

Out of the locker rooms, the Aces made their way back. Samantha Heck and Blair scored back-to-back baskets to cut Illinois State’s lead to six, 31-25 at the second media timeout of the half. Falkenstein and senior Stephanie Bamberger capped the 8-0 run that put the Aces within one, 31-30, at the 10:30 mark.

Illinois State responded with a 12-5 run, but Ellerson’s three-point play on a layup and free throw cut the deficit to four, 43-39 with two minutes left.

However, the Redbirds knocked down their free throws when the Aces were forced to foul in attempt to get possession of the ball and sealed the victory.

On the night, UE shot 29.6 percent (16-for-54) from the floor and 25.0 percent (4-for-16) from three, while Illinois State recorded a 35.8 percentage (19-for-53) from the field and 14.3 percent (1-for-7) from behind the arc.

The Aces are back on the road Sunday, taking on Indiana State for a 1:05 p.m. CST start.