by A second-quarter run by host Illinois State proved to be too much for the Valpo women’s basketball team to overcome Thursday night in Normal, Ill., as the Beacons saw their two-game winning streak come to an end with a 65-49 loss.
How It Happened
- Valpo jumped on top quickly, as Shay Frederick (Greenville, Wis./Hortonville) hit Leah Earnest (Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH) for a fast-break layup off a rebound on an ISU miss on its first possession.
- The Redbirds scored the next seven points, but Valpo countered with an 8-2 stretch which featured five points from Olivia Brown (East Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids [St. Bonaventure]) and a 3-point play by Grace White (Ojibwe/Sioux) to lead 10-9 at the media timeout of the first quarter.
- Illinois State scored the next five before White connected on a 3-pointer in the final minute to bring Valpo within 14-13 at the end of the first.
- The Beacons scored the first four points of the second quarter to lead 17-14 with 8:18 to play in the first half, but would be held scoreless for the next five-plus minutes as Illinois State went on a 13-0 run.
- Frederick snapped the scoreless drought with a 3-pointer with 2:56 to go in the half, a basket which proved to be the lone points for Valpo in the final 8:18 of the half. Illinois State went into the locker room with a 31-20 lead at intermission.
- The Beacons got no closer than the halftime deficit in the second half, as the Redbirds scored the first six points of the second half and led 55-32 at the end of the third period.
Inside the Game
- White’s 16 points off the bench paced Valpo on Thursday, while she also tied for team-high honors with seven rebounds.
