January 26, 20241st2nd3rd4thFinal
Valparaiso161641349
Indiana St.1810192370
Stats at a GlanceVALPOINS
FG Percentage.348 (16-46) .462 (24-52)
3P FG Percentage.217 (5-23) .308 (4-13)
FT Percentage.600 (12-20) .818 (18-22)
Offensive Rebounds813
Defensive Rebounds1825
Total Rebounds2638
Turnovers1916
Steals65
Bench Points918
LeadersVALPOINS
PointsEarnest - 18
Finnegan - 17
ReboundsEarnest - 6
Cain - 13
AssistsInterrante - 3
Sawyer - 2
Cain - 2
StealsInterrante - 2
Sawyer - 2
Finnegan - 2
BlocksGold - 1
Bess - 1
Finnegan - 1
BoxscorePlay-by-Play1st Half2nd Half
Beacons Suffer Setback at Indiana State Friday
Friday, January 26, 2024
Beacons Suffer Setback at Indiana State Friday
Leah Earnest scored a game-high 18 points Friday.

The Valpo women’s basketball team, led by 14 first-half points from senior Leah Earnest (Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH), held a four-point edge over host Indiana State Friday evening in Terre Haute, Ind., but the Beacons were held without a field goal in the third quarter as the Sycamores pulled away to a 70-49 victory.

How It Happened

  • Valpo led for the majority of the first quarter, pushing its lead to an apex of five points after back-to-back baskets from Earnest gave the Beacons a 12-7 lead just over four minutes into the game.
  • The Beacons still held a four-point lead with the clock ticking under three minutes in the opening period, but ISU scored the quarter’s final six points — including a halfcourt shot at the buzzer — to lead 18-16 at the end of one.
  • The Sycamores’ lead reached five points less than four minutes into the second quarter before back-to-back triples from freshman Saniya Jackson (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop) and fifth-year Olivia Brown (East Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids [St. Bonaventure]) erased the lead and more, giving the Beacons a brief one-point lead.
  • ISU had pulled back in front and led 28-27 with less than two minutes to play in the half. Valpo came through with baskets on consecutive possessions — another 3-pointer by Jackson and a driving layup by Earnest — for a quick 5-0 run to close the half, heading into the locker room with a 32-28 advantage.
  • Out of the locker room, Valpo was unable to hit a field goal in the third quarter and didn’t crack the scoreboard until a pair of free throws by senior Ava Interrante (McHenry, Ill./McHenry) with 3:10 to play in the period. At that point, the Sycamores had reeled off 15 points in a row to take a double-digit lead.
  • ISU led 47-36 at the end of the third quarter and scored on each of its first five possessions of the fourth quarter to keep the Beacons from making a run.

Inside the Game

  • Earnest finished with 18 points to lead all players on 8-of-13 shooting, while also pulling down a team-high six rebounds.
  • Earnest has scored in double figures in 15 of Valpo’s 17 games this year.
  • Jackson joined Earnest in double digits in the scoring column, finishing with 10 points — her eighth double-digit effort of the season.
  • After shooting 46.2% (12-of-26) in the first half to head into the locker room with the lead, the Beacons were limited to 20% (4-of-20) shooting in the second half.
  • Valpo also hit just five 3-pointers on the evening, matching its lowest output to date in Valley play.
  • There was only a three-turnover differential in that department (Indiana State 16, Valpo 19), but the Sycamores were able to turn the Beacons’ turnovers into 26 points, while Valpo scored just 14 points off ISU’s miscues.

Next Up

Valpo (2-15, 1-7 MVC) completes the swing through the Hoosier State on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. when it plays at Evansville.