Illinois State women’s basketball secures a Great 8 victory over George Washington

Image from Illinois State women’s basketball.

Normal, Ill. — Illinois State women’s basketball advanced to its second-straight WNIT Fab 4 appearance after a 61-53 win over George Washington University Monday night at CEFCU Arena. The win was ISU’s 17th win in front of its home crowd this season, tying the program record from the 2010-11 season.

The Redbirds shot 50% from beyond the arc, their best performance all season. The game was a back-and-forth battle for the first half, but ISU was able to pull away in the fourth quarter with a game-high lead of 12 points.

ISU had a five-point lead in the first quarter after a 3-pointer from Madison Austin, but the Revolutionaries took a one-point lead going into the second quarter after Kamari Sims was sent to the free-throw line off a foul from Bella Finnegan. Sims led the campaign with 17 points and three blocks on the night.

GWU entered the second quarter with a 12-11 lead and kept it nearly for almost the entire quarter. Gabby Reynolds had six of her final 12 points come right before halftime and the Revolutionaries led 27-26 after the first 20 minutes. The half showed incredible physicality by both teams and head coach Kristen Gillespie recognized it early on.

“We knew that was the game plan going in,” Gillespie said. “I didn’t think they could score enough points to beat us, I thought defensively we were going to be pretty good, it’s was just if they could be physical and take us off our spot,” she continued. “That’s what we talked about at halftime, just settle in, we know what we need to do.”

Both teams kept their physicality high all game, with a total of 31 finals at the end of the match.

GWU kept its lead in the third quarter until everything switched for ISU. A layup from Martin gave the Redbirds and one-point lead and they flew with it. They went on a 9-0 run in the end of the quarter before Sims knocked down another shot from deep, but ISU led 44-30 going into the final 10 minutes.

The Redbirds increased their lead to 11 after another layup from Martin and they continued to work inside the paint. Sims and Sara Lewis hit back-to-back 3 pointer to close GWU’s deficit to five with 4:39 on the clock, but ISU would not let go of its lead. A shot from beyond-the-arc by Doneelah Washington helped aid the Redbirds to taking a campaign-high 12-point lead, 61-49, with just under two minutes remaining.

The flock was unable to find the net for the remainder of the game, but they still secured the win.

Four Redbirds ended the night in double-digits with Addison Martin leading the team after securing 15 points. Washington and Trista Fayta were behind her with 13 points, and Finnegan earned 11, nine of which being from 22-feet out.

The road to the Fab 4 has not been perfect, head coach Gillespie acknowledges the work her team has put in.

“I don’t know if proud even sums up what I feel about this team,” Gillespie said. “To be back-to-back in the Fab 4, what an accomplishment for our program, especially after we lost four started from last year’s team,” she continued. “We’re so young and it’s been a little bit of up and down…it’s the belief our players have in each other, have in our system that allows us to do these things.”

ISU faces South Dakota at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in Vermillion to battle for a spot in the WNIT Championship.

For all things ISU women’s basketball, stay tuned on WZND.com.