The Lady Toppers (2-2) and the Sycamores (2-1) were tied going into the fourth quarter, but Indiana State outscored WKU 15-10 in the final frame.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Torri James, Tia Shelling, Salma Khedr, Tatum Boettjer and Zsofia Telegdy were the first five on the court for WKU for the second consecutive game.
WKU got on the scoreboard first on a pair of free throws from Khedr. The Sycamores followed with an 8-0 run, capitalizing off four WKU turnovers. The Lady Toppers responded with a 9-0 run to retake the lead, 11-8, with 1:40 left in the quarter. Indiana State scored the next five points, but a last second layup from James tied the score at 13 to go into the second quarter.
The Lady Toppers opened the second quarter on a 7-0 run, but the Sycamores cut into that lead with five straight points. From there, the two teams traded baskets and WKU took a 31-27 lead into halftime.
The Sycamores outscored WKU 23-19 in the third quarter, including a 10-0 run in the final minutes of the frame to take a lead for the first time in the second half. A bucket and foul shot from Khedr just before the buzzer tied the score at 50 to go into the final quarter.
Indiana State scored five straight to open the fourth quarter. From there, the two teams traded points. A Sycamore three with 1:50 left in the game gave Indiana State its largest lead of the game. The Lady Toppers were able to score on the next possession to cut it back down to five with 1:20 left. After a couple of turnovers from the Sycamores and a missed shot from WKU, the Lady Toppers scored on a layup from Shelling to cut it to three with 23 seconds left. WKU fouled on the next possession and Indiana State went 1-of-1 from the free throw line to make it a two-possession game with 22 seconds left. WKU had a look on a corner three with 13 seconds left, but the shot was no good. The Sycamores added another point on a pair of free throws in the final seconds.
QUOTABLE
"They made shots, they got rebounds; we missed shots, we didn't rebound," said head coach Greg Collins. "Our defense in the second half let us down. We lost way too many 3-point shooters. I think they had eight offensive rebounds in the third quarter. Our inability to be aggressive enough, our boxing out early, and coming up with a defensive stop or board – there were just too many second chances in there. In the first half, we were 1-for-13 I believe on shots outside the paint or close to the free throw line. We were 8-for-11 in or around the basket. That was the difference. In the second half, we had transition opportunities – we didn't get a free throw, we didn't get a layup, we didn't get a shot. Or we got the ball in there, but we took an off-balance shot. (On that shot) you don't get fouls, it's a low percentage shot and you're not going to get an offensive rebound. So, we have to get stronger and more determined about the shot we're going to take."
NOTABLES
- Salma Khedr led WKU in scoring with a career high 24 points. She bested her previous career high (10 points) in the first half. She also had career highs in blocks (2) and steals (2).
- Zsofia Telegdy and Tia Shelling each added 10 points. Telegdy dished out four assists, a new season high.
- Mya Pratcher led WKU on the boards, pulling down seven rebounds.
- WKU has had four different leading scorers through four games this season (Tatum Boettjer, Jeniffer Silva, Tia Shelling and Salma Khedr).
- The Lady Toppers had a season low nine turnovers in the game.
- WKU shot 90.9 percent (10-11) from the free throw line, a new season best percentage.
UP NEXT
The Lady Toppers conclude a three-game homestand on Wednesday, Nov. 19 against No. 19 Vanderbilt in Diddle Arena.
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