Illinois State Upends Belmont Sunday at the Curb

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Unable to overcome a season-low 16 first-half points, the Belmont University women's basketball team was handed a 70-56 loss by visiting Illinois State Sunday afternoon at the Curb Event Center. In the first-ever meeting between the two programs, the Missouri Valley Conference-leading Redbirds (11-5, 5-1 MVC) used a strong first half and a near career-high 26 points from starting guard Mary Crompton to get the league road win.
 
The game aired on Bally Sports and was a battle of teams picked first (Belmont) and second (Illinois State) in the 2022-23 MVC preseason poll.

The Bruins (7-10, 3-3 MVC) were limited to only four points in the first quarter as Illinois State shot 56.5 percent (13-of-23) in the first half, including going 6-for-11 (54.5 percent) from beyond the arc. Held to 23.1 percent (6-of-26) first-half shooting, Belmont started 1-for-8 from long range and could not string together scoring possessions.

Unable to overcome a 20-point halftime deficit, the Bruins got 20 second-half points from junior guard Destinee Wells and 13 points on 6-for-9 shooting and six rebounds in the second half from junior forward Madison Bartley. Belmont outscored the Redbirds 40-34 across the second half, holding Illinois State to 39.1 percent (9-of-23) shooting. Scoring 13 points off nine Redbird turnovers in the second 20 minutes of play, the Bruins outworked Illinois State 22-10 in the paint.

Belmont came up with a season-high 10 steals, seven of which came in the second half, but the Bruins couldn't put together a sustained scoring run.

The Redbirds could not have asked for a better start, racing out to a 12-0 lead as Belmont was scoreless for the first five-and-a-half minutes. Illinois State led by 17 at 21-4 at the end of the opening quarter after shooting 72.7 percent (8-of-11) from the field and going 5-for-8 from distance.
 
A Bartley basket and a layup from graduate guard Sydni Harvey were the Bruins' lone points in the first quarter.

Belmont went on a 6-2 run to start the second quarter with three consecutive buckets from sophomore guard Kilyn McGuff. However, the Redbirds led 36-16 at the half.
 
Wells scored the Bruins' first five points of the second half and Belmont began on a 10-3 run to climb within 13 at 39-26 five-and-a-half minutes in. The Bruins went on to outscore Illinois State 18-12 in the third quarter but trailed 48-34 heading into the final stanza.

Giving up only two baskets in the third, Belmont began to hit some outside shots with Wells providing 11 points in the quarter. Eight of the Redbirds' 12 points in the third quarter came on free throws with Illinois State going 8-for-12 at the charity stripe.

Layups by Bartley got the Bruins within 12 twice in the fourth quarter, including at 54-42 with five-and-a-half minutes remaining. Three-pointers by the Redbirds' Kate Bullman and Crompton quickly pushed Illinois State's lead out to 18 before Belmont trimmed it down to 13 following a three from Bartley and a Wells jumper.

Wells made a layup with 2:45 left to make it 62-49 and give the Bruins one last shot, but the Redbirds' Crompton answered with another triple. Crompton then sealed the game in the final minute with her final trey as the shot clock expired.

Belmont shot 45.7 percent (16-of-35) in the second half and finished 36.1 percent (22-of-61) overall, including 18.2 percent (4-of-22) from deep. Illinois State was 47.8 percent (22-of-46) from the floor for the afternoon and went 10-for-21 (47.6 percent) from three-point range.

Wells led all Bruins with 21 points on 8-for-13 shooting and distributed a game-high five assists. Bartley scored 15 and McGuff finished with 11 points, six boards and a season-high three steals.

Crompton went 7-for-13 from distance for the Redbirds and Illinois State got a double-double from DeAnna Wilson who posted 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. The Redbirds' Bullman registered 11 points, seven boards and four assists.

Of Note
Belmont outrebounded Illinois State 39-32, including 19-7 on the offensive glass. The 19 offensive rebounds represent a season high, and the Bruins outscored the Redbirds 18-5 on second-chance points. Wells has reached 20 points on seven different occasions this season. McGuff notched her sixth double-figure scoring game in the last nine outings, including reaching double digits in three of the last four games.
 
Up Next
Belmont has a five-day break from game action before completing its three-game homestand next weekend versus Missouri State Friday and Southern Illinois next Sunday. The Bears visit for a 6:30 p.m. tip on Friday and the Salukis are in town for a 2 p.m. tip Sunday. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
Follow Belmont women's basketball on social media - @BelmontWBB on Twitter, @belmontwbb on Instagram and Belmont Women's Basketball on Facebook - for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.