“Three-point basket by Ashleen Bracey!”

Those words echoed throughout Redbird Arena Saturday afternoon as the ISU women’s basketball team hammered Indiana State, 90-61 for its biggest win of the season.

The senior forward blitzed five three-pointers to finish with 19 points on the night.

“We were gellin’ today,” Bracey said. “[In past games] we kind of get caught playing the other team’s pace, but today we really got to run it and that’s when we’re at our best, so I think it was a lot of fun for everybody.”

The Redbirds shot 8-of-11 from beyond the arc in the first half, with senior guard Maggie Krick and junior guard Hannah Spanich both contributing two. Spanich had a breakout game, shooting 6-of-7 from the field to score 15 points.

Despite the Sycamores’ losing record, they held their own with the ‘Birds in the first half,

“Indiana State is a good team. There’s no doubt about it,” head coach Robin Pingeton said. “Their record is very deceiving.”

Back-to-back three-pointers gave Indiana State the lead four minutes into the game. It was short-lived as the ‘Birds quickly regained control of the game. After connecting on a three-pointer, the Sycamores only trailed by one point halfway into the first.

A mere two minutes later, the Redbirds had formed a comfortable 10-point lead.

Indiana State scored the last points of the first half to bring the score to 45-34 with the ‘Birds leading by 11.

When the Sycamores came out after halftime, an Illinois State turnover and an Indiana State three pointer all within the first 30 seconds pulled the Sycamores within eight and hinted at a change in momentum in Indiana State’s favor. But the momentum change was merely just a bump in the road.

“We had a little hiccup,” Bracey said. “Came out, were a little unfocused, but [Pingeton] got us together and back on track.”

Indiana State used the ‘Birds’ 20 turnovers as life support, scoring 28 points off turnovers as a result.

“Probably still the one weakness, the one thorn in our side right now is the unforced turnovers,” Pingeton said. “I think when you play at this pace, you’re certainly going to have some and I felt like we had more than we should’ve.”

ISU outrebounded Indiana State 41-23. Bracey and senior center Nicolle Lewis led the ‘Birds with nine rebounds apiece. Lewis picked up all of her 11 points from the free throw line. Krick finished with 17 points.

With much of the team fighting sickness in one form or another, ISU once again looked to its bench for support.     

“We have so many scoring weapons on our team,” Bracey said. “That’s going to be critical for us in these next eight games, for people to step up and knock down open shots.”

The Redbirds will put their nine game win streak to the test this weekend when they host Wichita State on Friday night for a 7:05 p.m. tipoff, followed by Missouri State on Sunday afternoon.