NORMAL, Ill. (Interstat) — Illinois State used a decisive third quarter to defeat Illinois-Chicago 75-61 in a Missouri Valley Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at Redbird Arena. The Redbirds, now 7-8, broke open a close game after halftime, outscoring the Flames 22-13 in the third period. Illinois State’s Doneelah Washington led all scorers with 19 points, adding three assists and three blocks. Jessica Carrothers paced Illinois-Chicago (7-9) with 20 points. The Flames shot 54% from the field but were hampered by 14 turnovers and poor free-throw shooting, making just 6 of 11 attempts. Illinois State capitalized with 21 points off turnovers and hit 11 of 13 from the line. The Redbirds also held a 9-4 advantage in offensive rebounds before a crowd of 1,638.

NORMAL, Ill. (Interstat) — Doneelah Washington scored 19 points and Illinois State used a decisive third-quarter surge to pull away from Illinois-Chicago for a 75-61 victory in a Missouri Valley Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at Redbird Arena. A crowd of 1,638 saw the Redbirds improve to 7-8 overall, while the Flames fell to 7-9. The game was a contest of contrasting efficiencies. Illinois State scored its 75 points on just 66 possessions, an offensive rating of 113.3, fueled by strong shooting and capitalizing on mistakes. The Redbirds shot 52.7% from the field, connecting on 29 of 55 attempts, and were efficient from deep, making 6 of 15 three-pointers. They also converted 11 of 13 free throws. Illinois-Chicago, despite shooting a respectable 54% on 27-of-50 shooting, managed only 61 points on 65 possessions, an offensive rating of 93.5, hampered by 14 turnovers and a 6-for-11 performance at the foul line. The first half was a tightly contested affair defined by runs. Illinois-Chicago’s Jessica Carrothers, who finished with a game-high 20 points, was active early, helping the Flames keep pace. The teams traded the lead several times in the opening quarter, which ended with Illinois State holding an 18-17 edge after Washington’s driving layup at the buzzer. The second quarter proved pivotal for the Redbirds’ control. After Illinois-Chicago’s Chantrel Clayton, known as Tutu, hit two free throws to open the period and tie the game, Illinois State clamped down defensively. The Flames managed only seven points in the entire quarter, their lowest output of the game, on 3-of-11 shooting while committing five turnovers. Meanwhile, Washington and Grace Nelson sparked a 15-5 run for the Redbirds. Washington scored five points during the stretch, including a three-pointer, and Nelson buried two critical three-pointers. The defensive effort and timely shooting sent Illinois State into halftime with a 36-24 lead, a 12-point advantage that felt larger given the Flames’ offensive struggles. The most important part of the game came early in the third quarter, when Illinois State extinguished any hope of an immediate Flames rally. The Redbirds opened the second half with a blistering 10-2 run over the first three and a half minutes. Washington assisted on a Kya Hurt jumper, Addison Martin scored inside, and Jaeden Pratt converted a three-point play and later a three-pointer off another Washington assist. That burst pushed the lead to 48-29, effectively putting the game out of reach. Illinois State outscored UIC 22-13 in the third to carry a 58-37 lead into the final frame. Illinois-Chicago showed fight in the fourth quarter, nearly doubling its output from the previous two periods combined by scoring 24 points. Carrothers scored 10 of her points in the final period, and Julia Coleman, who finished with 15, was active inside. The Flames cut the deficit to 12 points on multiple occasions, the last coming at 69-57 on an Amelia Strong free throw with 3:51 remaining. Each time, however, Illinois State had an answer. Pratt, who scored 12 points, answered one Flames push with a layup, and Madison Austin, who contributed 8 points off the bench, provided key baskets late, including a tip-in with 1:37 left that sealed the win at 75-61. Beyond the scoring, Washington’s all-around line of 19 points, three assists and three blocks in 34 minutes set the tone. Martin added 10 points and four assists, while Trista Fayta chipped in 10 points, three assists and three steals. For Illinois-Chicago, Clayton finished with 11 points. Illinois State dominated the glass with a 9-4 advantage in offensive rebounds, leading to a 13-5 edge in second-chance points. Both teams committed 14 turnovers, but the Redbirds were more punishing, converting those into 21 points, compared to 15 for the Flames. The Redbirds, who were projected as heavy favorites by advanced metrics, will look to build on the conference win when they host Evansville on Sunday. Illinois-Chicago continues its road swing, traveling to face Evansville next Friday. The two teams will meet again in Chicago on Jan. 22.

Preview: UIC Flames at Illinois State Redbirds NORMAL, Ill. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum in Missouri Valley Conference play will meet Thursday when the Illinois State Redbirds host the Illinois-Chicago Flames in a women’s basketball matchup at Redbird Arena. The Flames (7-8) enter after a 70-57 home victory over Indiana State on Sunday, which snapped a three-game losing streak. The Redbirds (6-8) look to rebound from a 75-68 road loss at Belmont that same day. UIC’s offense runs through guard Jessica Carrothers, who is coming off a 20-point, eight-rebound, five-assist performance against Indiana State. Over her last five games, Carrothers is averaging 19.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists, showcasing her all-around capability. She will be the primary focus for an Illinois State defense that has allowed an average of 78.3 points over its last three contests. Illinois State will counter with its own standout in forward Doneelah Washington, who dominated the paint against Belmont with 23 points and 16 rebounds. Washington has been a consistent force, averaging 21.0 points and 8.0 rebounds over her last three games. Her interior battle with UIC’s frontcourt, including Sara Zabrecky and Julia Coleman who combined for 17 rebounds Sunday, will be pivotal. Both teams have experienced similar struggles in non-conference play but are looking to establish consistency within the Valley. The Flames have shown a Jekyll-and-Hyde tendency, following a 48-point outing in a loss to Austin Peay with a 77-point performance in a win over DePaul in December. The Redbirds’ offense has been volatile, scoring 105 points in a blowout win over Indiana State before being held to 44 in a loss to Nebraska. History will be made as this marks the first meeting between the programs as Missouri Valley Conference opponents, adding a new chapter to the in-state rivalry. The Flames will continue a three-game road swing after this contest, while the Redbirds open a brief two-game homestand. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CST Thursday at Redbird Arena.