NORMAL, Ill. (Interstat) — In a Missouri Valley Conference women’s basketball clash defined by turnovers and timely execution, Illinois State leaned on a stellar performance from guard Trista Fayta to hold off a persistent Drake squad 77-70 on Saturday night at Redbird Arena.

A crowd of 2,183 saw the Redbirds improve to 13-9 overall, while the Bulldogs fell to 6-17.

The game’s pivotal dynamic emerged early and persisted throughout: Illinois State’s defensive pressure against Drake’s ball security. The Redbirds forced 15 Bulldogs turnovers, converting those miscues into 19 points. Conversely, Drake managed only eight points off seven Illinois State turnovers. This disparity proved to be the cornerstone of the outcome, offsetting Drake’s advantages in field goal percentage and points in the paint.

Fayta, a 5-foot-8 guard from Green Bay, Wisconsin, orchestrated the Illinois State attack with a game-high 23 points and nine assists over 37 minutes. Her backcourt partner, Addison Martin of Shreveport, Louisiana, added seven points and five assists. The interior was commanded by Doneelah Washington of Lincoln, Nebraska, who contributed 20 points and two blocks. Bella Finnegan, a hometown product from Normal, provided a critical spark off the bench with 10 points, including two first-quarter three-pointers that helped establish an early lead.

Drake was led by Ava Hawthorne of Ames, Iowa, who scored 14 points and dished out four assists. Anna Becker of Topeka, Kansas, added 15 points, and Abbie Aalsma of Waupun, Wisconsin, finished with 10 points and four assists. Center Maggie Taylor of Rapid City, South Dakota, also chipped in 10 points.

Illinois State set the tone from the opening tip. After a slow start from both sides, Fayta ignited an 8-0 run with a three-pointer and a stepback jumper, giving the Redbirds a lead they would never relinquish. Finnegan’s consecutive three-pointers later in the period pushed the advantage to 21-12, and the quarter ended with the home team leading 21-17.

The second quarter saw Drake chip away, primarily through work in the paint, closing the gap to 36-31 at halftime. The Bulldogs’ defense tightened, holding Illinois State to 15 points in the frame, but their own offensive struggles from beyond the arc—shooting just 3 of 17 for the game—prevented them from drawing even.

The most crucial stretch of the contest came in the third quarter. After Drake’s Anna Becker scored inside to cut the deficit to 39-37, Illinois State responded with a decisive 8-0 surge. The run was fueled by the Redbirds’ defensive identity: a steal by Grace Nelson led to a layup by Fayta, who was fouled and completed the three-point play. On the ensuing possession, another Drake turnover resulted in a transition jump shot from Finnegan. In a span of just over a minute, a two-point game became a 47-37 Illinois State lead.

Drake exhibited resilience, answering with a 7-0 run of its own to climb back within three points. However, they could never get over the hump. Every time the Bulldogs threatened, the Redbirds had a response, often generated by their defense or a key play from Fayta. She scored or assisted on 12 of Illinois State’s 23 points in the third, which ended with the Redbirds ahead 59-50.

The Bulldogs made a final push in the fourth quarter, closing to within 67-65 on an Abbie Aalsma layup with 3:20 remaining. Again, Illinois State had the answer. Fayta drove for a layup, and after a Drake turnover, Martin hit a short jumper off a feed from Fayta to extend the lead back to six. In the final minute, with Drake forced to foul, Illinois State sealed the victory at the free-throw line, making six of eight attempts in the last 38 seconds.

Statistically, Drake was more efficient from the field, shooting 50.9% on 29-of-57 shooting compared to Illinois State’s 46.8% on 29-of-62. The Bulldogs also dominated points in the paint, 50-40. But the Redbirds’ advantages from the three-point line (4-of-11 to 3-of-17) and, most critically, the free-throw line (15-of-23 to 9-of-13), coupled with the massive turnover margin, provided the winning formula.

The victory continued a positive trend for Illinois State, which has now won three of its last four conference games. Drake, despite the loss, showed fight against a team that entered as a significant favorite but continues to search for consistency in a challenging season.