The Valpo women's basketball team was within four points of host Illinois State at halftime Saturday afternoon in Normal, Ill., but the Redbirds pulled away in the second half for a 90-68 victory. Nevaeh Jackson (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop) paced the Beacons with 21 points, while Leah Earnest (Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH) broke Valpo's career games played record when she took the court Saturday.
 
How It Happened

• Valpo scored on two of its first three possessions of the game for a quick 4-0 lead before the Redbirds went on a 17-2 run over five and a half minutes to go ahead by double figures, 17-6.
• Jackson went on a 7-0 run all on her own, finishing inside on back-to-back trips and later hitting a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to four points at 17-13 with 1:24 to play in the period.
• Illinois State led 21-15 at the end of the opening quarter.
• The Beacons scored the first five points of the second period to move within one point, but were unable to pull back in front as Illinois State scored the next five.
• The Redbirds' advantage hovered right on either side of the five-point mark for the remainder of the first half, and Valpo trailed 39-35 at intermission.
• Valpo answered an Illinois State basket with a Maci Rhoades (Beavercreek, Ohio/Beavercreek [Radford]) 3-pointer to open the third quarter, making it a one-possession game at 41-38. But Illinois State hit 3-pointers on three straight trips to quickly go up 50-38, forcing a Valpo timeout with 7:14 to play in the period.
• The Beacons were unable to cut the deficit back to single digits, as the Redbirds led 65-46 at the end of the third period on their way to the win.

 
Inside the Game

• Earnest became Valpo's career games played leader, surpassing Caitlin Morrison as she donned the Brown and Gold for the 142^nd time Saturday.
• Jackson paced Valpo for the second straight game, finishing with 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting — including four 3-pointers — to surpass the 20-point mark in consecutive games for the first time in her collegiate career.
• Jackson also notched four assists and four steals, the latter tying her season best in the category.
• With her four triples, Jackson owns 67 3-pointers this season, cracking the program's top-10 for most 3s in a single season.
• Earnest finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists, the last mark matching her career best.
• With her seven boards Saturday, Earnest has 860 career rebounds, leaving her just 10 away from Tamra Braun's career record.
• Earnest has scored 493 points this season, sixth-most in a single season in program history and just one point shy of her total from last year.
• Layla Gold (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) added nine points, while Fiona Connolly (South Burlington, Vt./Brewster Academy [La Salle]) and Kayla Preston (Omaha, Neb./Millard North) scored eight and seven, respectively.
• Valpo tallied 17 assists, one off its season best, on 26 made baskets. 10 of the Beacons' baskets were triples, the seventh time this season they have hit 10 or more 3-pointers.
• The Beacons also committed just 10 turnovers Saturday, the program's lowest total since committing just eight miscues against Bradley Jan. 29, 2023. Valpo was a +7 in the turnover margin department Saturday.
• Illinois State hurt the Beacons on the offensive end, knocking down 13 3-pointers — tied for the most in a game this season by a Valpo opponent. The Redbirds hit at a 54.7% clip overall from the field.

 
Next Up
Valpo (12-17, 8-10) returns home to the ARC for its final two games of the regular season, starting Thursday evening against Drake at 6 p.m.