WC Indiana News

 Sycamores surge past Flames behind strong defensive showing

Chelsea Cain led all scorers with a season-high 21 points Thursday night, leading Indiana State to a gritty 59-48 win over UIC inside Credit Union 1 Arena.

 

The win was Indiana State's first MVC win of the season and was also the first road win of the year for the Sycamores. Nine different players scored in the game for the Trees, with Del'Janae Williams and Mya Glanton chipping in seven points apiece and Anna McKendree adding six. Indiana State forced 20 turnovers and limited UIC to a 28.3 percent clip from the field.

 

Indiana State closed the opening quarter on a 5-0 run and led for the remainder of the game. The Sycamores limited the Flames to a shooting percentage below 30 percent in three of the four quarters and hit timely shots on the offensive end when it mattered. Cain scored 17 of her game-high 21 in the second half, as Indiana State scored 32 points in the paint over the final 30 minutes in imposing its will inside. ISU's ability to keep UIC out of any offensive rhythm allowed the Trees to walk out of Credit Union 1 Arena with its first road and conference win of the season.

 

First Half

Indiana State got off to a slow start on the offensive end, but the Sycamore defense stood tall in the opening frame with seven forced turnovers. The first basket for the Trees didn't come until after the media timeout, when Anna McKendree beat the shot clock with a 3-pointer from the wing. McKendree added another trey in the quarter as the Sycamores heated up late. Chelsea Cain and Caitlin Anderson added baskets in the final minutes of the period as the Sycamores led 14-10 after the first.

 

The Sycamores carried their momentum into the second quarter, going on an 8-2 run midway through to push their lead to double-digits at 22-11. Mya Glanton started the scoring for the Trees with back-to-back layups, while Adrian Folks added four in the quarter for the Blue and White. The Sycamores led 26-17 following Lily Niebuhr's first basket of the season late in the half and, despite a slow start, took a 26-20 lead into the intermission.

 

Second Half

Cain scored the first four points of the third quarter for Indiana State and Del'Janae Williams drove through the middle of the lane for a layup to push the Sycamore lead back into double-figures midway through at 32-22. The Sycamores continued to play well on the defensive side, limiting UIC to a 4-for-17 mark in the quarter. Free throws helped UIC cut Indiana State's lead to as little as three late in the quarter, but baskets by Glanton and Cain ended the run and gave the Trees some breathing room. Indiana State entered the fourth quarter ahead 40-34.

 

Just like the third quarter, Cain opened the scoring in the fourth for the Sycamores with a fastbreak layup and tacked on a three-point play to make it 45-34. UIC used a run to cut Indiana State's lead down to three, but a Niebuhr layup settled the Sycamores down heading into the media timeout. Williams had the finishing blow for the Trees inside the final two minutes with a three-point play on the fastbreak started by a McKendree rebound. Indiana State was 6-for-7 from the free throw line in the last 70 seconds to seal a 59-48 win, its first MVC win and first road win of the season.

 

Inside the Numbers

•    Despite allowing 18 offensive rebounds, Indiana State limited UIC to just seven second chance points. The Sycamores actually had mores second chance points than the Flames despite pulling down only nine offensive rebounds.

•    Indiana State took full advantage of UIC's 20 turnovers, as the Sycamores turned those into 19 points on the other end. The Trees also took care of the basketball, finishing the game with a season-low eight turnovers.

•    17 of Chelsea Cain's 21 points came in the second half, where she was 6-for-10 from the field and 5-for-6 from the free throw line.

•    Lily Niebuhr's four points were the first points of her collegiate career. She also played 10:58, her most in an MVC game this season.

•    Bella Finnegan, who is from the Chicago suburb of Hometown, Illinois, finished with three points, four steals, two assists, two blocks and one rebound in her first game back in the Windy City.

•    Indiana State did not lose any of the four quarters Thursday. The Sycamores outscored UIC in three of the four quarters, while the teams tied in the third with 14 points each.

 

News & Notes

•    Thursday's win was Indiana State's first road win and MVC win since defeating Bradley 83-63 on Feb. 4, 2022.

•    Indiana State snapped a 12-game MVC losing streak dating back to last season. The Sycamores have not lost more than two games in a row this season.

•    Chelsea Cain sits just 10 points away from reaching 1,000 for her collegiate career. Cain scored 857 points in three seasons at Nicholls State and has 133 points this season.

•    Thursday's win was the first this season when Indiana State had fewer than three players in double-figures.

•    Indiana State improved to 6-2 this season when leading at the half and 4-1 when holding opponents under 60 points. The Sycamores are 10-2 under head coach Chad Killinger when opponents score under 60.

•    Indiana State has won each of its last four games against UIC and improved to 14-3 all-time against the Flames.

Original source can be found here.