Illinois State scored a season-high 79 points, outrebounded, and outshot Illinois from the field but could not hold on for the victory as Allison Curtin and Anne ONeil scored 19 points apiece to lead the Fighting Illini past the Redbirds, 90-79 Thursday as Redbird Arena.
I couldnt be more proud of this team right now. Those girls gave everything, played 20 solid minutes of ball and didnt fold, head coach Jenny Yopp said. They made a good run in the second and we had some turnovers, but this is still a versatile team that is gaining experience everyday and this game shows that we have the ability to beat some really good teams.
ISU falls to 1-6, recording its fifth-straight loss on the season while Illinois, which was ranked in the nations top 25 until this week, improves to 3-4. The Fighting Illini set aRedbird Arena record with 29 free throws made and 40 attempted in the game. Freshman Jaci McCormack led the Redbirds with a career-high 17 points, 12 in the second half. Sharon Blade added 15, Nadia Peruch had 12 and Shandeen Hunt had all of her 11 in the first half.
The Redbirds forced six turnovers in the first seven minutes and took a 13-6 lead on Taren OBriens baseline jumper with 11:42 left in the half.
Illinois caught the Redbirds with some alert defense on the third of three fast-break layups by Aminata Yanni, which tied the game at 17-17 with 8:37 left in the first half. But a pair of Steph Reichle three-pointers helped the Birds regain a 23-19 advantage. But another Yanni layup and a three-point play by Anne ONeil gave Illinois a 24-23 lead. Shandeen Hunt answered with the first of three straight three-pointers for the Birds, expanding the lead to as much as 32-26.
ISU led by as many as eight on two occasions in the first half and, at halftime, the Birds had a 44-39 lead thanks to 59 percent field goal shooting and a 19-13 rebounding edge.
Illinois earned just its third lead of the game, 49-48, on a steal, layup and free throw by Ivana Marcauskaite with 17:09 left. That was part of a 21-3 run which put Illinois ahead 64-51 with 11:52 remaining.
But ISU came back on the back of McCormack, who scored eight points of an 11-0 Redbird run to cut the lead to 64-62 with 8:45 left. An ONeil free throw and another Yanni layup put UI up by five. McCormack made her eighth and ninth free throws of the game and pulled ISU within 67-66 on a layup at the 7-minute mark. A Sharon Blade layup put ISU ahead 68-67 with 6:05 left.
Jaci made some plays off the bench, plays we havent even seen, and as a freshman, Yopp said. She can handle the ball against anyone and we have been encouraging her to look for her shot when open. She has been getting better on both ends everyday, working hard and and doing a great job. I am real proud of our freshmen.
The Redbirds led 72-69 into the final four minutes, but Marcauskaite hit a pair of free throws and then a short bank shot to put Illinois ahead 73-72 with 3:03 remaining. Blades free throw with 2:31 left tied it and Marcuskaite gave Illinois a 74-72 lead with another low post basket. ONeil added two free throws to put Illinois up 77-73.
Peruch answered with a layup with 1:36 left but Vana countered and Illinois led again by four. Six free throws by Hunter put the Illini safely in command in the final minute.
The Redbirds outrebounded Illinois 37-30 in the game, with Blade leading on the boards with five.
The Redbirds return to action on Sunday, December 17. The Tigers of Missouri will be in Normal for a 5:35 p.m. game at Redbird Arena.
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