The Valpo women’s basketball team placed four players in double figures Friday in its return to the ARC and enjoyed another strong performance shooting from deep, but the Beacons were unable to overcome a large advantage in the paint and on the glass from visiting Indiana State, as the Sycamores earned an 85-65 win.
How It Happened
- The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair, featuring seven lead changes and four ties as the two sides vied for control. Indiana State held a five-point lead at 8-3 four minutes into the game, but other than that, it was within one possession either way for most of the period.
- Valpo trailed 16-14 entering the final minute of the opening quarter, but Grace White (Redby, Minn./Red Lake [Denver]) scored five points in the final 60 seconds to push the Beacons to a 19-18 edge at the end of the first period.
- The battle to gain the advantage continued into the second quarter, as there were five more lead changes in the first half of the stanza. Leah Earnest (Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH) gave Valpo a 26-25 lead with 6:26 to play in the first half on a layup off a feed from Shay Frederick (Greenville, Wis./Hortonville).
- The Beacons failed to hit from the field for the next six-plus minutes after that bucket, however, as the Sycamores went on a 12-1 run to pull ahead by double figures. A step-back 3-pointer by Frederick in the final seconds of the half brought Valpo back within 37-29 at intermission.
- Valpo enjoyed a strong offensive third quarter, hitting 8-of-13 from the field, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range. But the Beacons were unable to close any closer than five points during the period, as Indiana State went 10-of-21 from the field and grabbed offensive boards on eight of its 11 misses. The Sycamores finished the third quarter with 12 second-chance points and outscored Valpo for the period, 26-23, to push their lead to 63-52 with 10 minutes to play.
- ISU went on a quick 7-0 spurt in the first 90 seconds of the fourth quarter to secure the win.
Inside the Game
- Earnest paced Valpo in the scoring column for the third time this year, finishing with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
- Earnest led four Beacons in double figures in scoring on Friday. Olivia Brown (East Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids [St. Bonaventure]) tallied 13 points while also dishing out a career-best five assists.
- White scored 10 points off the bench, reaching double digits in the category for the fourth straight game. She also led the Beacons on the glass with seven rebounds.
- Frederick knocked down three 3-pointers on her way to a 10-point night. The senior, who also led all players with seven assists, now has scored 1,117 career points — just six shy of 12th place in program history.
- As a team, Valpo assisted on 18 of its 21 baskets Friday night – its second-highest assist total of the year.
- The Beacons shot 12-of-30 (.400) from 3-point range in the defeat. This marks the fourth time in seven MVC games that Valpo has made at least 10 triples and has shot at least 40% from deep.
- Valpo committed just 14 turnovers on Friday, its lowest total since turning the ball over just 10 times in the MVC opener at Southern Illinois. It was the first time this season that Indiana State forced fewer than 15 turnovers.
- The Sycamores hit the glass hard on Friday, out-rebounding Valpo by a 41-20 margin. ISU grabbed 18 offensive boards and converted them into 26 second-chance points.
- Indiana State held a 40-point advantage in the paint, out-scoring the Beacons from the lane, 58-18.
- Carie Weinman (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South [Denver]) made her return to the floor with 12 minutes off the bench. It was Weinman’s first appearance since Dec. 21, as she had missed the first six MVC games of the season.
Next Up
Valpo (5-13, 3-4 MVC) gets a chance to earn a split of the weekend on Sunday afternoon when it takes on Evansville at the ARC. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m., and the action can be seen live on ESPN+.
