EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville women's basketball team went down to the wire with their opponent for the third consecutive game on Sunday afternoon, but fell short in a 78-75 loss to Indiana State.

BreAunna Ward (St. Louis, Mo./John Burroughs School) had a career game for the Aces, leading the team with a season-high 22 points. Ward also notched season-highs with 34 minutes played, eight rebounds, three blocks, and four steals, becoming the second freshman since the 2009-10 season to post that stat line in 34 minutes or less.

Three other Aces scored in double figures, matching a season best. Camryn Runner (Cicero, Ind./Hamilton Heights) scored 19 points with seven rebounds, while Sydney Huber (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Mount Vernon) scored 13 with a season-high six assists and Georgia Cox (Ballarat, Australia/Eastern Illinois) scored 10 points for her third double-digit scoring effort in the last four games.  

The game was tight from the start, with Indiana State grabbing an early four-point lead before a three-pointer by Jelena Savic (Melbourne, Australia/Kurunjang Secondary College) tied things up at 12. However, the Sycamores controlled things for the remainder of the quarter to take a 25-19 lead.

Indiana State stayed in front in the second quarter, stretching the lead to 10 at the 4:16 mark in the period. However, the Aces made a run to end the quarter, outscoring the Sycamores 6-2 in the final two minutes to cut the deficit to three at halftime.

Ward got hot coming out of halftime, opening the third quarter with a triple to tie things up at 41 before scoring seven more points in the period. The Aces tied it up again with 7:43 to go in the period, and the game remained close throughout the quarter, including another tie at 53 apiece. Evansville would not get over the hump, however, as Indiana State remained in front by three heading into the fourth.

The Sycamores extended their lead back up to seven early in the fourth quarter, but a 7-0 Evansville run, led by five points from Ward, made it a 70-70 game with 2:45 left. Indiana State responded, though, using a 6-0 run of their own to take a 76-70 lead in the final minute. Huber was able to cut the deficit to three with a three-pointer with 20 seconds left, before a technical foul on Indiana State following two Sycamore free throws allowed Runner to make a pair of free throws and give her team the ball down three with 13 seconds left. On the final possession of the game, Runner looked as if she would force overtime, but a three-pointer rimmed out and the Sycamores escaped with a 78-75 win.

Evansville goes back on the road next week, traveling north to take on Valparaiso and UIC. Tip-off at Valpo on Thursday is set for 6 PM.