Nadia Peruch scored 17 points, including the deciding final three, and Sharon Blade had a game-high 14 rebounds to lead Illinois State past a National Womens Basketball League Elite Team 72-69.
Former Illinois State star Jenny Schmidt led all players with 19 points. Kizzy Dawson added 16 and Delonda Little had 12 for the Elite team.
Kellie Johnson added 10 points for the Redbirds, who got scoring from 11 of its 12 players. Steph Reichle had 8 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals, with ISU scoring after all five of her steals.
Illinois State coach Jenny Yopp was pleased with Peruchs leadership.
Nadia is an agile post with perimeter skills and great experience, said Illinois State coach Jenny Yopp. She found her target and finished many more shots than she did last game. She was a leader for us on the court.
The Elite team took a 21-13 lead just past the mid-polnt of the first half on a jumper by Kizzy Dawson, but Reichle got the Redbirds rolling with steals on back-to-back possessions. She assisted baskets by Johnson and Jaci McCormack which started ISU on a 15-0 run over the ensuing 4:30.
Taren OBrien capped the run with a three-pointer to give ISU a 28-21 lead with 4:24 remaining in the half. The Redbirds, plagued by fouls and second-chances allowed in the first half of their first exhibition game, had just six fouls and allowed the elite team just four offensive rebounds, all in the final five minutes.
Sixteen free throws (for the opponent) tonight; 40 last Saturday, said Yopp. Thats a big improvement for our team.
Two steals by Reichle and another by Mariela Miles highlighted an 11-3 ISU run to start the second half as the Redbirds raised the lead to 48-31 on Nadia Peruchs conventional three-point play with 16:58 left.
But the Elite teams Central Illinois connection, Schmidt (Illinois State) and Tammy Van Oppen (Bradley) each hit a two pointer and a three-pointer for a 10-0 Elite run, cutting the ISU lead to 48-41.
Early in the second half, every time the pro team put together a run to cut the lead to single digits, the Birds responded with back-to-back baskets until the Elite team put together an 11-0 run capped by Bridgett Porters three-pointer with 2:15 left to cut the lead to 69-67 and Dawson followed with two free throws to tie the score at the 1:32 mark.
They showed us a zone in the second half and we struggled with that, said Yopp. But we made some plays at the end.
ISU took the lead back with1:04 left on a nice pass from Johnson to Nadia Peruch for a short jumper. Schmidt had a six-footer on the baseline to tie with 15 seconds left, but missed it and Shandeen Hunt was fouled on the rebound.
Hunt missed, but forced a turnover on the ensuing rebound to give ISU the ball with 9 seconds left. Peruch was fouled with 4.7 seconds left and hit one of two free throws. The Elite team had a final chance, but Mariela Miles knocked the ball away from Schmidt as time expired.
Schmidt, who graduated in 1999, was impressed with her old team.
Theyre young and have enthusiasm and energy, said Schmidt. They continue to push the ball
The Redbirds open the regular season Nov. 17 at Northern Illinois.
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