A battle of treys started the game with a bucket from Villanova's
Rachel Roberts followed by a 3-pointer from Broadway. Roberts
continued to fire and posted the first eight points for the
Wildcats. Illinois State remained within one point, 12-11, after the
first five minutes with the help of back-to-back Redbird layups from
Hall.With a jumper from Broadway and a trey from Candace Sykes,
the Redbirds went on a 7-0 run with seven minutes remaining in the
half to lead 20-15. Both teams went scoreless for the next three
minutes, until Lauren Burford hit a jumper to put the Wildcats
within three points at 20-17.
Villanova tied the game 24-24 with a layup from Emily Leer with
less than a minute remaining in the half. A late Wildcat foul put
Jamie Russell to the line, and a made free throw sent the Redbirds
into the break with a 25-24 lead. A solid Redbird defensive effort
forced Villanova to commit nine turnovers in the first half.
Illinois State shot 32.3 percent from the field, compared with the
Wildcats’ 31 percent.
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After the half, Villanova went on a quick six-point run with the
help of a 3-pointer from Roberts and a jumper from Lindsey Kimmel
for a 30-29 lead. Broadway answered right back and notched three
consecutive points to put the Redbirds in front 33-32. With baskets
from Hall, Russell and Broadway, Illinois State continued to widen
the gap to 12 points with 8:24 remaining in the game.
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Despite Broadway hitting her third trey of the game, the Wildcats
took over late in the half and went on a 12-3 run, trailing by only
one point, 49-48, with less than four minutes remaining. The teams
continued to exchange points until a Redbird foul sent Burford to
the line and tied the game at 53 with 1:30 left to play.
A Villanova foul sent Hall to the line the next possession,
giving ISU a 55-53 lead, but Devon Kane hit a wide-open 3 with 20
seconds remaining in the game for a 56-55 Wildcat lead. Illinois
State was forced to foul, allowing Kane to seal Villanova victory
from the line, 58-55.
Illinois State shot 31.3 percent from the field, while Villanova
shot 37.3 percent from the field and grabbed five more boards than
the Redbirds.
Villanova will face the winner of Colorado and South Dakota in
the third round of the WNIT.
___
Official statistics:
box score and play-by-play
[Text from
file received from
Illinois State]
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