VALPARAISO, Ind. (Interstat) — Kennedy Claybrooks delivered a near triple-double and Indiana State built a commanding early lead to cruise past winless Valparaiso 77-63 in a Missouri Valley Conference women’s basketball game Thursday afternoon at the Athletics-Recreation Center.

The Sycamores, who led wire-to-wire, improved to 7-13 overall. The Beacons, one of two remaining winless teams in Division I, fell to 0-21.

Claybrooks, Indiana State’s top performer, stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in 37 minutes, setting the tone on both ends of the floor. Her all-around effort anchored an Indiana State offense that proved efficient despite a low-assist afternoon, posting an offensive rating of 101.7 points per 100 possessions.

The most important part of the game was Indiana State’s dominant start, which effectively decided the contest in the opening minutes. The Sycamores scored the game’s first nine points, opening with a Claybrooks pull-up jumper and an Amerie Flowers jump shot assisted by Claybrooks. Valparaiso did not score until Kayla Sullivan’s free throws at the 8:58 mark of the first quarter, by which time Indiana State already led 9-2. The Beacons missed their first five field goal attempts and committed two early turnovers, allowing the visitors to establish a rhythm and a lead they would never relinquish.

Indiana State led 18-13 after one quarter and extended its advantage to 40-29 by halftime. The Sycamores’ interior dominance was a key factor, outscoring Valparaiso 40-22 in the paint. Flowers provided a significant boost off the bench, contributing 14 points and five rebounds.

Valparaiso, which shot just 30.6% from the field, was led by Milana Nenadic’s double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds. The 6-foot-3 forward from Kitchener, Canada, was a persistent presence inside. Allia von Schlegell added 15 points for the Beacons, while Sullivan finished with 12.

Despite the final margin, Valparaiso showed fight in the fourth quarter, outscoring Indiana State 21-20. A late 7-0 run, capped by a Nenadic layup with 29 seconds remaining, brought the Beacons within 14 points, but the Sycamores had long since secured the outcome.

Indiana State’s Da’Naria Washington added 11 points, six rebounds and four assists, and Samiyah Briggs chipped in 10 points. The Sycamores won despite recording only four assists as a team, relying on individual creation and offensive rebounds, of which they had nine.

Valparaiso struggled with its offensive execution, turning the ball over 12 times and managing an offensive rating of just 83.5. The Beacons also connected on only 8 of 28 attempts from three-point range.

The game was the second meeting between the teams this season. Indiana State also won the first contest, 88-78, on Jan. 1 in Terre Haute.

Indiana State visits Evansville on Sunday. Valparaiso travels to face Illinois-Chicago on Saturday.