EVANSVILLE - Hanging with the Redbirds for much of the contest, the University of Evansville women's basketball team dropped a home contest to Illinois State, 68-51, on Thursday evening inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.

Three Aces finished in double-figures led by freshman Abby Feit (16 points) and sophomore A'Niah Griffin (15 points), while sophomore Anna Newman tallied 10 points. Juliunn Redmond paced the Redbirds, scoring 18 points off the bench for Illinois State.

Evansville was game for the battle early in the game, but the Redbirds controlled the second half to secure the win.

Despite trailing by as many as nine in the first quarter, the Aces were resilient, battling back in the second quarter, eventually tying the game at the half. Evansville out-scored the Redbirds, 16-10 in the second period, the lowest point total in a quarter for Illinois State since the first quarter against Valparaiso on Feb. 16.

It was a quick start to the second half that helped propel the Redbirds. Illinois State scored the first six points coming out of the break, forcing an Evansville timeout. The Aces again showed its fight as Evansville got back within one just under the five minute mark on a layup by redshirt junior Jada Poland. After Poland's bucket, the Redbirds held the Aces to just two points over the final four minutes and secured a 51-44 lead heading into the fourth.

Illinois State dominated much of the final 10 minutes as the Redbirds out-scored the Aces, 17-7, in the quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Aces cut their deficit to single digits twice, but could draw no closer than eight as the Redbirds captured the 68-51 win.

Evansville closes out its regular season on Saturday when it will recognize senior Kaylan Coffman on Senior Day against Bradley at 1 PM inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
 

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