EVANSVILLE, Ind. (Interstat) — In a Missouri Valley Conference women’s basketball game defined by grit over grace, the Indiana State Sycamores edged the Evansville Purple Aces 78-75 on Sunday at Ford Center. The victory completed a regular-season sweep for the Sycamores, who also defeated Evansville on Jan. 18.

The contest was a defensive struggle marked by frequent whistles and offensive inefficiency. Both teams combined to shoot just 37.1% from the floor and committed 32 turnovers. The difference ultimately came at the free-throw line, where Indiana State attempted 13 more foul shots and made eight more than the hosts, overcoming a poor 3-for-17 performance from beyond the arc.

Indiana State (8-13, 3-7 MVC) established an early lead, closing the first quarter up 25-19 behind active interior play. Evansville (5-17, 3-7) responded with consistent scoring in the second and third periods, matching the Sycamores nearly point-for-point to stay within striking distance. The game featured 13 ties and 14 lead changes, with neither team able to build a comfortable advantage.

The most critical sequence unfolded in the final minute with Indiana State clinging to a 73-70 lead. After an Evansville timeout with 35 seconds remaining, the Sycamores’ Tierney Kelsey was fouled and calmly sank both free throws to extend the lead to five. On the ensuing possession, Evansville’ Sydney Huber connected on a deep 3-pointer with 20 seconds left, slicing the deficit to 75-73 and setting up a tense finish.

Indiana State’s Da’Naria Washington was fouled immediately but missed the front end of a one-and-one. However, a technical foul was called on Washington for dissent after the miss. Evansville’s Camryn Runner stepped to the line and made both technical free throws to tie the game at 75 with 13 seconds remaining, capping a stunning five-point Evansville possession.

With the game suddenly knotted, Indiana State inbounded the ball to Kelsey, who was fouled again with 13 seconds on the clock. The guard displayed remarkable composure, draining both free throws to restore the Sycamores’ lead at 77-75. Evansville’s final attempt to tie or win came up short, and Indiana State’s Clemisha Prackett secured the defensive rebound and was fouled. She made one of two free throws with less than a second left to provide the final margin.

The star of the game was Indiana State’s Clemisha Prackett. The 6-foot-1 sophomore from West Memphis, Arkansas, delivered a career-high 20 points, adding seven rebounds and a block in just 24 minutes off the bench. Her efficient interior scoring, particularly in the third quarter, provided a crucial offensive spark for a Sycamores team that struggled from the perimeter. This performance marked a significant uptick from her recent outings, where she averaged 10.3 points over the previous three games.

Evansville was led by a stellar effort from Breaunna Ward. The Hazelwood, Missouri, native posted a game-high 22 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and recorded three blocks and two steals in 33 minutes. Camryn Runner of Cicero, Indiana, added 19 points and seven rebounds for the Purple Aces, while Huber from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, filled the stat sheet with 13 points, five rebounds, and six assists.

Supporting Prackett for Indiana State was Amerie Flowers of Willowbrook, Illinois, who contributed 14 points and four rebounds. Kelsey, from Memphis, Tennessee, scored 14 points, including the decisive free throws in the final seconds.

Despite the loss, Evansville held advantages in several categories, including steals (11-9), blocks (6-1), and assists (11-9). The Purple Aces also shot a slightly better percentage from three-point range, making 6 of 24 attempts compared to Indiana State’s 3 of 17. However, Indiana State’s aggression paid off, as they parlayed 17 Evansville turnovers into 18 points and outscored the Aces 18-9 in second-chance points, despite both teams pulling down 11 offensive rebounds.

The game was a matchup of teams projected to be closely matched, with Evansville entering as a slight favorite according to advanced metrics. The 346 in attendance saw a contest that lived up to that billing, decided by the narrowest of margins in the final seconds.

Indiana State looks to build momentum when it hosts Murray State on Thursday. Evansville, still seeking its first win in February, travels to face Valparaiso on Thursday.