The better hand: Illinois State women’s basketball battles back to secure a win over Evansville

Image courtesy of Illinois State women’s basketball.

NORMAL, Ill. — Illinois State women’s basketball overcame an eight-point deficit to defeat Evansville 88-75 on Sunday afternoon at the Meeks Family Fieldhouse. ISU trailed eight points late in the second quarter, but a resilient second-half effort sent the flock home with their ninth conference win of the season.

Three Redbirds ended the away-campaign in double-digits with a newcomer leading the charge. Grace Nelson led the team with 23 points, a career-high. Addison Martin fell close behind with 21 points, the senior’s first 20 or more point game since the Nov. 26 loss to Rice. Doneelah Washington earned her 14th game in-a-row in double-figures, securing 18 points.

ISU took a five-point lead half-way through the first quarter after back-to-back 3-pointers from Washington, but Breaunna Ward brought the Aces within one after two shots in the paint. Jelena Savic gave Evansville the lead, 14-12, after a steal and shot from 22-feet out.

A back-and-forth battle continued and Kya Hurt brought the Redbirds within four points with a layup, but the Aces went on a 7-0 run to take an 11-point lead with just over a minute left on the clock.

ISU ended the first 10 minutes trailing eight and Evansville kept the pressure on for the remainder of the half.

Martin gave the Redbirds the lead, 31-30, less than four minutes into the second quarter but Evansville would not go away. ISU went on nearly a four-minute scoring drought and the Aces had an eight-point lead with 1:15 left on the clock. A 3-pointer by Nelson and layup from Martin closed the ISU deficit to three points heading into the final 20 minutes.

Both teams traded points back-and-forth with the biggest leader being six points for Evansville after a shot from beyond the arc by Camryn Runner. The guard led the campaign with 26 points, eight assists and three steals.

Despite the deficit, ISU battled back to take a three-point lead going into the final quarter, 59-56.

The Redbirds took full control of the game in the last 10 minutes. The Aces could not find the scoreboard for almost three minutes and it made way for a 13-point ISU lead after a 3-pointer from Bella Finnegan.

Evansville closed its deficit to single digits but ISU did not allow the Aces to go all-in. They trailed 16 points with 23 seconds left and Runner hit her second 3-pointer of the afternoon, but it was not enough to lead a last second comeback for Evansville.

A 12-point fourth quarter from Nelson helped lead ISU to another Missouri Valley Conference victory and a season-sweep of the Aces.

ISU improves to 15-10 overall and 9-5 in the MVC. The Redbirds are back in action at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 20 at CEFCU Arena to take on Belmont, the No. 2 team in the conference.

For all things Redbird women’s basketball, stay tuned on wznd.com.