EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Camryn Runner (Cicero, Ind./Hamilton Heights) became the first player in the MVC to post 26 points, eight assists and three steals in a game this season, but the University of Evansville women's basketball team fell to Illinois State on Sunday at Meeks Family Fieldhouse by a score of 88-75.

Runner scored 25-plus points for the fifth time the season, making her one of three players in the MVC with five such games this season. Georgia Cox (Ballarat, Australia/Eastern Illinois) scored in double figures for the seventh time in the last 11 games with 15 points. BreAunna Ward (St. Louis, Mo./John Burroughs School) also added 12 points for her fifth double digit scoring effort in her last eight outings.

Evansville was red-hot from distance to begin the game, going 4-for-6 from three. Cox and Jelena Savic (Melbourne, Australia/Kurunjang Secondary College) sunk the first two threes of the quarter to put the Aces up 14-12 before Syndey Huber (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Mount Vernon) knocked down a pair of triples to help give Evansville a 26-18 lead at the end of the first quarter.  

Illinois State responded, however, taking a 31-30 lead at the 6:37 mark of the second quarter. With the Redbirds holding a 35-32 lead with 5:08 to play in the half, Ward kickstarted an Aces run with layups on consecutive possessions. Following a basket by Runner, Huber buried a three and Savic made a layup to make it an 11-0 run. Illinois State responded with a pair of baskets to end the quarter, and the Aces went into halftime with a 43-40 lead.

Evansville pushed the lead to six early in the third quarter on a triple by Runner, but Illinois State would regain the lead at 51-50 with 4:13 to play in the quarter. After Evansville regained the lead at 56-51, Illinois State closed the period with an 8-0 run, giving the Redbirds a 59-56 advantage.

Illinois State remained red-hot early in the fourth quarter, connecting on four three-pointers in the first three and a half minutes of the period to take their largest lead of the day at 13. From there, the Redbirds controlled the game, taking an 88-75 win.

Evansville continues their homestand on Friday, welcoming UNI to Meeks Family Fieldhouse. Tip-off is set for 5 PM.