TERRE HAUTE —
In a battle of two young women’s basketball teams, Indiana State’s senior point guard Taylor Whitley rose to the occasion, scoring a season-high 18 points and swiping seven of the Sycamores’ 19 steals Tuesday in Hulman Center.
Indiana State’s team defense — primarily a 3-2 zone led by ISU’s active guards and Racheal Mahan finishing with many of the rebounds — helped the Sycamores erase a 36-29 deficit early in the second half. ISU’s steal total was good for the second best in school history.
After falling behind seven, ISU went on a 16-2 run to take a 45-38 lead on its way to a 58-52 victory against Northern Illinois.
Mahan finished with her third double-double of the season. Coming off a career-high scoring performance in ISU’s win at Saint Louis, Mahan had a career-high rebounding night, dominating the glass with 17 rebounds to go with her two blocks and three steals.
“She’s a beast,” Northern Illinois coach Kathi Bennett said. “Once she learns use her left and counter move, she’s going to be something else. But she just is a very physical player, and plays with great will and great tenacity.”
As big as Mahan played, ISU coach Teri Moren was thrilled to see her point guard make the game’s decisive plays.
“I thought Taylor was clearly the player of the game. We thought our best offense tonight was putting the ball in Taylor’s hands and letting her work off the high ball screen or the wing ball screen,” Moren said.
Whitley found Anna Munn for her only 3-pointer of the night, with Munn reading the defense off a flare cut. ISU was energized off that play that pulled it within 38-37 with nine minutes to go.
On the next NIU possession, Whitely picked up a steal and made her second 3-point play during that 16-2 run. The Sycamores forced consecutive turnovers — Northern Illinois finished with 26 in the game — and then Whitley attacked the basket to get to the line for two more free throws. Then she found freshman Kasey Johnson for a layup that gave the Sycamores needed separation.
“In the gameplan, they said I could really utilize going off ball screen. That definitely worked to all of our advantages,” said Whitley, who credited ISU’s defensive intensity for the win. “In the second half, we stepped up at the defensive end. We definitely have to keep fighting.”
Munn, who finished with 15 points after knocking down 10 of 10 at the foul line, finished in double figures for the seven time this season, becoming the first Sycamore to do so since Melanie Boeglin did in the first 16 games of 2005-06.
Munn was impressed by the Sycamores’ continued play at the defensive end.
“That’s just our bread-and-butter really, our defense,” Munn said. “We really feed off that end of the court. We’ve just got to continue that the rest of the year and we’ll be good.”
ISU was pretty steady at the defensive end in the first half as well, making a 9-0 run to take a 13-9 lead after a sluggish start.
Sophomore guard Natasha Zurek played big minutes for the Sycamores in the opening 20 minutes, making four steals and blocking a shot that led to an ISU bucket at the other end.
Zurek had a pair of steals during the 9-0 ISU run that catapulted her team ahead 13-9 with 11:40 to go before halftime.
“I love playing with Tosh, she’s just a hard-nosed player,” Whitley said. “She’ll get in you defensively. She definitely did that in this game. Our coaches preach getting deflections defensively, and she definitely did that today.”
Moren hopes the Sycamores continue to build off the wins. ISU plays host to Illinois-Chicago on Friday.
“You win a game like tonight that helps your confidence. We’re a pretty confident group right now,” Moren said.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS (52) — Thorp 0-1 4-4 4, Buggs 2-7 0-0 4, Hoelmenn 1-3 1-2 3, Taylor 3-6 0-0 8, Corrall 6-11 4-4 19, Sneed 21-4 0-0 4, Lindstrom 1-2 0-0 2, Pulliam 3-5 0-0 6, Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Wittman 0-1 0-0 0, Augusta 0-0 2-2 2, Haywood 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-41 FG, 11-12 FT, 52 TP.
INDIANA STATE (58) — Mahan 6-14 0-4 12, Valley 1-5 0-0 2, Johnson 1-2 0-2 2, Whitley 6-11 6-8 18, Munn 2-13 10-10 15, Zurek 3-5 0-0 6, Laramie 1-2 1-2 3, Franklin 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-52 FG, 17-26 FT, 58 TP.
Halftime score — ISU 23, NIU 22. 3-point shooting — NIU 5-12 (Corral 3-6, Taylor 2-3, Thorp 0-1, Buggs 0-1, Lindstrom 0-1). ISU 1-8 (Munn 1-7, Valley 0-1). Rebounds — NIU 30 (Thorp 6, Buggs 6), ISU 30 (Mahan 17, Valley 4, Whitley 3). Assists — NIU 11 (Buggs 3, Corral 3), ISU 7 (Whitley 3, Valley 2). Turnovers — NIU 26, ISU 18. Blocks — NIU 2 (Buggs, Hoelmenn), ISU 3 (Mahan 2, Zurek).
Next — Indiana State (5-2) plays host to Illinois-Chicago on Friday. Northern Illinois (3-4) plays Dec. 15 at DePaul.
College
Related Photos
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Going for two: Indiana State's Natasha Zurek drives for a basket Tuesday night in Hulman Center. Jim Avelis
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On the loose: Northern Illinois forward Jada Buggs gets the ball stolen in a combined effort by Indiana State's Taylor Whitley, Racheal Mahan and Jessica Valley on Tuesday. Jim Avelis
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Looking up: Indiana State forward Racheal Mahan gets an open look inside against the Northern Illinois defense Tuesday night in Hulman Center. Jim Avelis
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Tall order: Indiana State's Jessica Valley tries to find a way around the defense of Northern Illinois forward Jenna Thorp in first-half action Tuesday. Jim Avelis
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Nothing's easy: Northern Ilinois guard Alicia Johnson and Indiana State's Taylor Whitley fight for control of a loose ball near the end of the first half Tuesday night in Hulman Center. Jim Avelis
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Whitley on the loose: Indiana State guard Taylor Whitley gets around a Northern Illinois opponent Tuesday night in Hulman Center. Jim Avelis
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Open layup: Indiana State guard Anna Munn drives for a basket against Northern Illinois on Tuesday in Hulman Center. Jim Avelis
Discussion
Stealing a victory
Whitley, Mahan lead ISU women's basketball to 6-point triumph
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DeNato proves IU can pitch too
Joey DeNato dispelled the notion that College World Series newcomer Indiana is all about offense.
The junior left-hander threw a four-hitter and the Hoosiers looked mighty comfortable at TD Ameritrade Park while beating Louisville 2-0 on Saturday night. -
Etherington, Moore happy to be with ISU basketball
Not even two weeks into their college experience, Indiana State freshmen men’s basketball players Alex Etherington and Demetrius Moore stood sentinel as 115 kids ran around them collecting basketballs and getting autographs at the Greg Lansing Basketball Camp on Thursday.
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ISU's Johnson invited to World University Games
Indiana State senior Felisha Johnson will be traveling the world this summer after being named to represent the United States in the women’s shot put at the World University Games in Kazan, Russia.
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FROM THE PRESS BOX: Close, but no cigar, theme for ISU sports in 2012-13
When I covered my first event of Indiana State’s 2012-13 season — ISU’s opening football game at Indiana — I was the first one in the press box at IU’s Memorial Stadium. I’m never the first one in the press box.
Maybe the prospect of ISU’s season had me so pumped that I decided to get it started close to three hours early? (Or more truthfully, maybe I was over-vigilent about predicted traffic horrors on the Indiana 46 bypass that never came to pass.) -
Q&A: ISU football coach Mike Sanford ready for fall
It’s hard to believe, but Mike Sanford has already been Indiana State’s football coach for six months.
Time flies, but Sanford’s task of preparing for his first season in charge of the Sycamores comes with few breaks. -
Rex streak ends at 7
The Terre Haute Rex table setters — Kyle Kempf and Tyler Wampler — had three of the team’s eight hits Friday at Bob Warn Field, but the Rex offense found itself in a big early deficit for the first time this season.
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Manaea’s selection puts ISU in spotlight
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ISU’s Hope places 13th in NCAA pole vault
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Metro roundup: Former Sycamores take talents to CFL
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Exit Minnesota, enter Oregon State on 2016 football schedule
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ISU’s scheduled game at Minnesota in 2016. -
METRO ROUNDUP: Swift reaches finals of NCAA Championships in 110-meter hurdles
Indiana State junior Greggmar Swift will be among the top eight in the NCAA in the 110-meter hurdles after qualifying for Saturday’s finals on Thursday.
Swift ran a time of 13.51 seconds to take third in his heat. He’ll run in either lane 1 or lane 8 on Saturday.
“I got out pretty good and then I hurdled three or four when I got bumped and it threw me off my rhythm,” said Swift, a native of Barbados. “I tried to get back my rhythm … but I held on for the third place.” -
ISU's Manaea selected 34th overall by Royals
Indiana State pitcher Sean Manaea selected 34th overall by the Kansas City Royals.
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Sycamores ready for more NCAA track success
Five of the six Indiana State athletes in Eugene, Ore., already have had some memorable track and field careers for the Sycamores.
But they’ll go ahead and try to add to their list of accomplishments in the NCAA outdoor championships this weekend.
Dustin Betz has been a scorer and key piece of eight Missouri Valley Conference championship teams between track and cross country. He’ll compete today in the 3,000-meter steeplechase as the Sycamores’ second best in the event behind Jordan Fife. -
Mike Lucas joins ISU football staff
What traits do head football coaches seek out when they hire position coaches?
Indiana State football coach Mike Sanford provided insight into that question as he hired former Southeast Louisiana head coach Mike Lucas to his staff Tuesday. Lucas will be the Sycamores’ defensive line coach.
“You have to look at your staff and see what you need. I felt like in this particular case, I wanted an experienced defensive line coach. I feel like we have a mixture of experience and youth and I want to keep that going,” Sanford said. -
TODD GOLDEN: MVC Tourney can be ISU success story if work is done
Prior to last week’s Missouri Valley Conference baseball tournament at Illinois State’s Duffy Bass Field, fear and loathing prevailed in some corners of the conference.
It seemed that Missouri State, Creighton, and most notably, Wichita State, had a monopoly on the season-ending tournament since the Coolidge Administration. (It had actually been since 1998.) How could the tournament make it without playing in one of the three aforementioned universities’ big venues? - COLLEGE REPORT: Wabash College All-American relay team has TH flavor
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Six Sycamores heading to NCAA Track and Field championships
Three Indiana State seniors and a freshman punched their tickets Friday to the NCAA outdoor track and field championships in two weeks at Eugene, Ore. Two more got the job done Saturday on the campus of UNC Greensoboro in the East Preliminary.
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Sycamores bow out of MVC Tournament
Indiana State’s baseball was out of pitching, and after a loss to Wichita State on Thursday, the Sycamores were out of second-chances too at the Missouri Valley Conference baseball tournament. What the Sycamores weren’t out of was heart, guts and clutch performances from some unlikely sources. But in the end, Friday’s elimination game rematch against the Shockers was a sampling of ISU’s season overall — the Sycamores were out of luck.
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Metro Sports: Chalk up No. 5 for Liz Evans
Senior Liz Evans capped the top career in Rose-Hulman athletics history with her fifth national championship and eighth All-American award at Wisconsin-La Crosse on Friday.
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Four Indiana State athletes advance to NCAA outdoor track and field championships
Three Indiana State seniors and a freshman have punched their tickets to the NCAA outdoor track and field championships in two weeks at Eugene, Ore., with their Friday efforts in the 2013 NCAA East Preliminary at Aggie Stadium on the campus of North Carolina A&T.
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Wichita State shuts out ISU to force elimination-game rematch
Indiana State starting pitcher Greg Kuhlman did his best.
Actually, he did far better than he ever has previously in an ISU uniform, but while Kuhlman’s gutty pitching effort spoke volumes, ISU’s bats remained ominously silent. -
Indiana State baseball now one win from MVC Championship
Indiana State’s Wednesday morning wish list probably read something like this: a dominant complete game effort from starting pitcher Devin Moore, near-immaculate defense to support him, and a steady diet of clutch situational hitting from lineup spots one to nine.
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Terre Haute's Mascari running 10,000 meters for chance to get to Hayward Field
Indiana State freshman and Terre Haute North graduate John Mascari is among the enormous group of Sycamores competing this weekend at the NCAA East Preliminary. The top 48 NCAA track and field competitors in each event on this half of the United States are narrowed down to 12 who will compete at the NCAA meet at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
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Manaea's shoulder causing him latest pain
Indiana State pitcher Sean Manaea has battled through so many aches and pains during the 2013 season that it can be hard to discern the serious pain from the pain he pitches through.
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ISU's Negele answers call in big way in wake of Manaea injury
When Indiana State starting pitcher Sean Manaea slumped on the mound in obvious pain after he took his warm-up pitches, red flags raised for ISU’s Missouri Valley Conference tournament hopes.
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ISU baseball hoping Manaea can get its MVC Tournament moving in right direction
Indiana State’s baseball team has been waiting all season for its stars to align.
But this is the 2013 Sycamores, after all, and after a season in which seemingly little has gone right, it appears its stars will remain crossed at the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. -
ISU track sending record 22 to postseason
On the heels of their thrilling double victory at the 2013 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships both the Indiana State men and women moved up in the national rankings which were released Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
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ISU's athletic treasure trove
Think of every championship that Indiana State has won in each of its sports, past and present. Think of every tournament — postseason or regular season — which the Sycamores have claimed as their own.
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Ort sets ISU RBI record in 16-7 win
Robby Ort celebrated his Indiana State baseball Senior Day on Saturday by becoming the Sycamores’ all-time leader in RBIs as ISU ended its regular season with a 16-7 win over Bradley at Bob Warn Field.
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Bradley ends 16-game MVC losing streak against ISU
Momentum was the only thing riding on Indiana State’s baseball game against Bradley on Friday. With a five-game winning streak going, ISU wanted to keep the good vibes going into next week’s Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
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