Macomb, Ill. — The Chicago State women's basketball team (0-3) fell to Western Illinois, 77-50, in its first in-state battle of the season on Wednesday night.
Freshman guard Aaliyah Collins led the Cougars with 13 points in her fourth collegiate game, continuing her hot start. The former Washington State Player of the Year has led CSU in scoring in each of the first three games.
"We're asking Aaliyah to do a whole lot for us," head coach Tiffany Sardin said. "We have to continue to bring others along with her. She is running the offense, defending the other team's best guard for 94 feet and more. She's doing what we're asking of her."
In the first quarter, the Cougars opened their offensive attack with a three-pointer from Allysah Boothe, which started an effective run to start the game, with CSU on top, 7-6. Collins and Quentarra Mitchell also added buckets for the Cougars.
From that point, however, the Leathernecks unleashed a 19-3 run to lead, 25-9, at the first quarter break.
"We constantly talk about starting well," Sardin said. "We have to avoid putting ourselves in these holes."
Later trailing, 30-13, early in the second quarter, the Cougars powered through a 17-3 run, keyed by jumpers from Boothe, Janiah Newell and layups from Collins and Mitchell. Laura Segues also nailed a three, the Spain native's first of the season.
The Cougars roared back to make it 35-30, Western Illinois, at halftime.
"In the second quarter, we were on the same page," Sardin said. "We were intentional about getting stops and putting an emphasis on that. We were getting four or five stops at a time."
In the second half, the Leathernecks took a stranglehold of the game. After a Boothe three to start the third quarter, WIU went on a 9-0 run and never took its foot off the gas.
It was 54-37 at the end of the frame, and the Leathernecks, powered by guard Danni Nichols, who scored 23 points, held on to win, 77-50, in spite of a smooth 13 points from Collins.
Boothe and Mitchell each added nine points, while Newell dropped in five.
"Our women know the gameplan, and it's just about complying with it," Sardin said. "We have to play a full four quarters. We'll keep chipping away and getting better every day."
The Cougars next face Loyola-Chicago at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, the team's second consecutive matchup against an Illinois team.
About Chicago State
Chicago State University Athletics is comprised of 15 intercollegiate teams involving over 150 student-athletes that compete in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and volleyball. CSU held memberships in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and NCAA Division II before transitioning to NCAA Division I in 1994. Melvin Bland was the first CSU student-athlete to gain NAIA All-American status in 1974 as a wrestler. Fred Evans became the first black swimmer ever to win a national championship in 1975. CSU's women's basketball team earned a spot in the 2011 Women's Basketball Invitational and CSU's men's basketball team won the 2013 Great West Conference Tournament title and made an appearance in the CollegeInside.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). The Men's Outdoor Track & Field 4x100-Meter Relay team were 2019 Honorable Mention All-Americans and WAC Champions. Their feat marked the first time the Chicago State's men's track & field program was represented at the national meet.
Follow the Cougars
For complete coverage of Chicago State University athletics, follow us on social media @ChiStateCougars (Twitter), @ChiStateCougars (Instagram), /ChiStateCougars (Facebook), or visit the official home of Chicago State athletics at GoCSUCougars.com.
