Maryville-Illinois State boxscore in PDF
Normal, Ill. - After leading for virtually all of regulation, the Maryville women's basketball team narrowly missed its chance to topple a Division I team as Illinois State escaped with a 77-68 victory in double overtime at Redbird Arena in the exhibition opener for both teams. The Saints led for almost 29 minutes in the contest, and ISU had to hit a 3-pointer with 8.9 seconds left just to force the first OT session.
Trailing 7-3, the Saints scored seven straight points to surge ahead.
Ali Ringering hit a jumper, and
Alissa Oney scored on a layup and was fouled. Her free throw with 15:39 left in the first half gave the Saints an 8-7 lead. Maryville would hold the edge well into the second half.
Alex Hillyer made a jumper in the paint for a 10-7 lead. The Saints still led 20-18 before reeling off an 11-2 run. Ringering scored and hit a free throw to start the run. Oney sank two free throws, and a jumper by
Jordynn Martin was the last of seven straight points. After a layup by ISU, Ringering had an offensive rebound for a put back, and a Hillyer jumper rattled in for Maryville's biggest lead of the night at 31-20. The Saints settled for a 31-25 lead at the half.
In the second half, Illinois State finally tied the score at 35-35 and the game was still deadlocked at 37-all.
Shelby Miller drilled a 3-pointer to push the Saints back ahead 40-37 with 12 minutes to play in the second half. ISU scored five straight points to finally take the lead 44-42 at the 8:48 mark. The Saints were down 46-42 but responded with eight straight points. Oney hit a wing 3-pointer, and Miller added a fadeaway jumper to put Maryville back up 47-46. Miller hit a long 3-pointer for a four-point edge, and two Hillyer free throws with 2:38 to go gave the Saints a 52-46 advantage. ISU chipped away at the lead and pulled to within 53-51 with 33 seconds to play. Maryville hit one free throw, but ISU's Stekara Hall sank a 3-pointer with 8.9 seconds left to eventually force overtime at 54-54.
The Redbirds jumped to a quick lead and were up 61-56 before Hillyer scored in the lane. The Saints got a stop, and Martin's 3-pointer from the left wing tied the game at 61-all and forced a second overtime. Again, ISU scored the first five points of double OT, and the Saints trimmed the deficit to 68-66 on a trey by Miller. However, the Saints missed three straight shots and the Redbirds took advantage of second chance points and scored six straight points to hold off the Saints valiant efforts.
Hillyer registered a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Miller finished with 16 points. Martin added 11 points, and
Alex Wolf grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds, eight on the offensive end. Hall led Illinois State with 22 points and snared 14 boards.
Maryville plays its season opener Sunday, Nov. 16, when Culver-Stockton visits for a 1 p.m. contest.
