JOURNAL SPORTS

NORMAL, Ill. — Illinois State shot 58 percent overall and made 10 of 13 shots in the fourth quarter Monday night in a 78-70 victory over Louisiana Tech in the Great 8 of the WNIT on Monday night inside CEFCU Arena.

The outcome ended the season for the Lady Techsters (18-16). Illinois State will host a Final Four semifinal Wednesday against Troy.

Louisiana Tech opened the game on a 7-0 run and opened a 10-point advantage, but the Redbirds replied with a massive 18-1 run to go on top 38-31 at halftime.

The teams swapped the lead in the third period but a late 3-pointer pushed ISU ahead 51-50 headed to the final 10 minutes.

In the first four minutes of the fourth period, Illinois State used a 13-2 run, ended by nine unanswered points, to build a 64-52 lead.

Louisiana Tech shot 52.9 percent (27-51), 46.7 from behind the arc (7-15), and 81.8 percent from the line (9-11). Conference USA Freshman of the Year Paris Bradley led the way with 18 points. Fellow freshmen Jordan Marshall and Averi Aaron finished with 14 points apiece. Marshall also had a game-high eight boards.

Illinois State drained 57.1 percent from deep (12-21). Elyce Knudsen led the way with 21 points, including 5-7 from long range. Nevaeh Thomas had 16, Maya Wong finished at 15 and Shannon Dowell added 10 for the Redbirds.

“They got into it there in that fourth-quarter run that they made, but I am really proud of our group for battling,” said Techsters’ coach Brooke Stoehr.

“We had some turnovers to start that fourth quarter. They go on a run, and we have to call a timeout. That little spurt they had there was the difference in the game. They put so much pressure on you the way they shoot the ball and push the ball in transition well.

“We shot the ball extremely well. We needed a bit more defensively there that fourth quarter to give ourselves a chance down the stretch,” said Stoehr.