Illinois State hangs on to break Lady Bears home win streak

Missouri State is seeking an offensive identity following injuries to Jasmine Franklin and Abby Hipp. The Lady Bears’ performance beyond-the-arc against Illinois State on Saturday afternoon suggests the search continues.

Missouri State (13-4, 4-2 MVC) shot a dismal 11 percent (3-for-27) from three-point territory and Illinois State outscored MSU in the paint – a rare sight at JQH Arena – as the Redbirds (10-8, 6-1 MVC) bruised to a 52-51 win and snapped the Lady Bears’ 18-game home winning streak against Valley opponents.

Mya Bhinhar’s game-winning three-point attempt as the horn sounded fell off the rim – a fitting ending to a frustrating afternoon for Lady Bears’ shooters. Brice Calip scored a team-high 15 points and ten rebounds; Abi Jackson and Sydney Wilson reached double-figures with ten points each.

“Obviously a disappointing loss, especially at home,” Lady Bears’ head coach Amaka “Mox” Agugua-Hamilton said. “Offensively we were just not good at all and in order for the team to win games, we got to get better in that area.”

Juliunn Redmond scored a game-high 19 points for Illinois State, including a triple with 1:07 remaining in the game that proved to be the game-winner.

“We knew (ISU) was going to pack the paint,” Calip said. “We need to shoot (three-pointers) to get our driving lanes more open…we know we can make them, we just have to make them in games.”

“We’ve seen it all year, to be honest, and we’ve handled it better than we did tonight,” said Coach Mox when asked how opponents focus on denying the Lady Bears points in the paint.

“We didn’t execute, we didn’t play with pace on offense… (ISUI) did a good job of packing the paint and it worked out for them.”

The game featured 18 lead changes and plenty of whistles.

Missouri State was charged with 20 personal fouls and 12 of the Redbirds’ 52 points were scored at the charity stripe.

Calip rescued the stumbling Lady Bears in the first half, scoring five-straight points early in the second quarter to turn a four-point deficit into a 19-18 lead. Moments later the senior point guard forced a turnover in front of the Lady Bears’ bench to the delight of 2,036 in attendance at JQH Arena.

Calip scored a game-high nine points and five rebounds in the opening half.

“I think we were a little frazzled at times,” Calip said. “We knew they were going to punch…they’re always going to give us their best shot – every team in the Valley will.”

The scored knotted 24 apiece when Paige Rocca splashed a triple at the buzzer – her first three-pointer converted after missing five from deep in the first half – to give MSU a three-point lead at intermission. MSU shot a dismal 2-for-17 from three-point territory and 29 percent from the floor in the first half.

The Lady Bears’ momentum was short-lived.

Illinois State scored the first six points of the second half and led 38-35 in the waning moments of the third quarter. Rocca found Mariah White open and the senior transfer from Cleveland State connected to bring MSU within a point, 38-37, after three periods.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Illinois State hangs on to break Lady Bears home win streak