In its first-ever meeting against a school from the SWAC, Indiana State rolled to a 116-73 win at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, while No. 19 DePaul handed Illinois State a 90-64 loss in Saturday MVC women's basketball action.

Indiana State 116, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 73
Indiana State had all of the right moves in a 116-73 trouncing of Arkansas-Pine Bluff on the road this afternoon (Nov. 18) at H.O. Clemmons Arena. The Sycamores put five scorers in double figures, and set school records for points scored (116), point scored in a half (63 in the first), field goal percentage (67.8%) and tied the mark for 3-pointers in a game (15) in the road victory. ISU improved to 1-1 on the season while UA-PB fell to 0-3.

Leading the way offensively for ISU was sophomore Leah Phillips, who scored a career-high 20 points in the game on the strength of six 3-pointers. She hit 7-of-10 shots from the field, including 6-of-8 from long-range in the victory.

Freshman Maria Olsthoorn posted her first career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds in the game. Olsthoorn hit 5-of-7 shots from the field, plus she was a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Also in double figures scoring was sophomore Annie Bankhead with 19; junior Angela Phillips with 10 and freshman Sarah Paul also scoring 10.

ISU led 63-33 at the half, which set a new school record for points in a half. ISU had posted 62 points twice before in its history (vs. Creighton in 1995 & vs. Eastern Illinois in 1997).  The Sycamores connected on 15 3-pointers in the game to tie the school standard. Indiana State connected on 15 triples during last season’s road victory over Eastern Kentucky as well.

Indiana State missed just 19 shots in the game, hitting 40-of-59 attempts for a percentage of 67.8%. That bested the previous school record of 62.1%, set in 1988 versus Northern Iowa.  And finally, the Sycamores’ 116 points scored are the most in school history. It topped the previous best of 108 points scored against IUPUI back in 1977. The 43-point differential on the road is tied for the widest in school history with a 104-61 victory at IPFW in 2002.

No. 19 DePaul 90, Illinois State 64
Seven first-half baskets from beyond the arc by DePaul put the Illinois State women’s basketball team in an early hole, as the ‘Birds trailed by double-digits for the duration of the second half, ultimately falling 90-64 in the championship game of the DePaul Invitational, Saturday night at McGrath Arena.

Leading all scorers was Blue Demon guard Allie Quigley, who finished with 26 total points.  The Redbirds were led by Kenyatta Shelton with 14 points, while Kristi Cirone tossed in another 12.

DePaul jumped out to an early 9-2 lead in the game’s first two minutes, as Blue Demon guard Quigley finished a trio of jumpers from close range.  Their lead continued with back-to-back three-point baskets from Missy Mitidiero and Jenna Rubino extended the score, 15-8, in favor of DePaul.

Cirone sparked the ‘Birds on both ends of the floor, collecting a steal followed by a fast-break layup to bring ISU within three, 23-20.  The sophomore then drew an offensive charge against DePaul guard Holly Medley, giving the ‘Birds the ball and the chance to tie the game with just over nine minutes to play in the half.

Consecutive three-pointers by Rubino, Quigley, who finished with 19 first-half points, and Caprice Smith, followed by an additional Smith jumper, gave the Blue Demons their largest lead of the first frame, extending the score to 38-21 with 3:30 left before the break.  Redbird junior Lashawn Johnson snapped the 17-point lead by grabbing an offensive rebound and sinking the put-back, while drawing a foul to bring the ‘Birds within 14, 38-24.  DePaul’s China Threatt sunk a trey at the first-half buzzer to put the Blue Demons up, 45-26.

The teams traded baskets for three minutes after the intermission, with Redbird center Nicolle Lewis scoring five ISU points in just over a minute, putting the margin at 49-35, in favor of DePaul at the 16:52 mark.  The Blue Demons then used a 15-0 run, spanning 2:30, to put the ‘Birds away for good, leading by as many as 30 points, 78-48, with 7:32 left to play in the game.  Shelton added five points in five-minute span for ISU, but DePaul used four three-pointers in the last ten minutes to secure the win.