WICHITA, Kan. - Michelle Price finished with her first career double-double performance in Wichita State's 59-56 win Sunday against Illinois State at Charles Koch Arena.

Sophomore forward Price led the Shockers with 14 points and 10 rebounds in the Missouri Valley Conference women's basketball game in front of 1,977.

Wichita State (9-8, 3-3) held off Illinois State's second-half rally to post back-to-back wins for the first time since the Shockers won three in a row in November.

Illinois State's Shala Jackson led all players with 25 points as the Redbirds fell to 10-6 overall and 2-3 in conference play, losing their third-straight game.

Haleigh Lankster and Jessica Diamond each posted 12 points for Wichita State.

A 3-pointer from Diamond tied the game, 3-3, in the opening minutes and kicked off a 10-1 run by the Shockers. A layup from Price, followed by two free throws from Lankster pushed Wichita State to a 10-4 lead just over four minutes into the first half. The Shockers forced three Illinois State turnovers by the first media timeout and picked up six points off of those turnovers.

A jumper from Jazimen Gordon gave Wichita State a six-point lead. Gordon followed the basket with a block at the other end of the floor that led to a Price put-back for an 18-10 Shocker edge.

A three-point play from Price, followed up with a steal and basket from Lankster, extended the Shocker lead to 23-14 with about eight minutes remaining in the half.

The Shockers grabbed their first double-digit lead of the game, 25-14, on a shot from Gordon with about six minutes left before halftime.

Two BreAnna Dawkins' free throws gave Wichita State a 13-point lead late in the half. Baskets from Price and Diamond extended the Shocker lead to 34-18.

Price led all scorers with 10 points in the first half as Wichita State led, 34-21, at halftime. Price also added a team-leading five rebounds in the opening 20 minutes of play.

Emily Hanley paced Illinois State with seven points and went on to score 12 in the game overall.

The Shockers forced 13 Redbird turnovers in the first half, which led to 14 Wichita State points. The Shockers shot 37.1 percent in the first half compared to the Redbirds' 31.8 percent shooting. The Redbirds had a 21-20 rebounding edge at the half.

By the first media timeout of the second half, the Shockers took an 18-point lead.

Two Illinois State free throws followed up a quick layup from Redbird Amanda Clifton cut the Shockers' lead to 14 points. But Wichita State's Diamond responded after a timeout with a three-point play. A 3-pointer from Alicia Sanchez followed to give the Shockers a 49-31 lead.

Illinois State continued to chip at the Shockers' lead, however, cutting the score to 49-37 midway through the second half as they outscored Wichita State 16-15 in the first 8:30 after halftime.

The Redbirds went on to build a 12-0 run and cut Wichita State's lead to six points with a layup from Hannah Spanich at the 10:44 mark followed by a layup from Clifton. Illinois State held the Shockers without a point for a span of more than five minutes until a layup from Lankster ended the stretch.

Free throws from Illinois State's Jackson cut the Shockers' lead to five points with just under six minutes remaining in the game. A three-point play from Jackson cut the Shockers' lead to two points with about 4:30 left in the game.

Price hit two free throws with about 4:09 to go to increase Wichita State's lead to four points. A Lankster field goal increased the margin to six points.

The Redbirds tied the game, 55-55, on a layup from Clifton with 1:29 remaining in the game. A Lankster layup regained a two-point lead less than 30 seconds later.

Illinois State's Jackson had a chance to tie the game when she went to the line after being fouled by Price with less than 10 seconds remaining, but only hit one of two free throws.

Diamond gave the Shockers a three-point edge by hitting two free throws with 4.2 seconds left on the clock.

The Redbirds, who shot 40 percent in the game overall, outscored Wichita State, 35-25, in the second half and finished the game with a 42-30 edge in rebounding. The Shockers finished the game shooting 38.6 percent and forced 19 Illinois State turnovers overall.

The Shockers next kick off a three-game road trip to close out January, traveling to play at 7:05 p.m. Friday at Missouri State, at Drake Jan. 27 and at Creighton Jan. 29.

 - Wichita State -