Kristi Larson scored 16 points, Katie Donovan had 11 points and 12 rebounds--her third double-double of the season--as the Illinois State womens basketball team fought off Northern Illinois, 55-52, for its first victory of the season Thursday night at Redbird Arena.
Larson led the Redbirds, 1-7 by shooting 6-14 on the night while Steph Reichle and Taren OBrien had nine apiece. Jennifer Youngblood led the Huskies, 5-4, with 19 points followed by Kim Boeding and Stephanie Smith had eight each..
But the game came down to Stacey Whites rebound of a missed ISU free throw with 18 seconds left. She captured the miss by Larson, got fouled and made both free throws.
I had been watching the block-out by Jessica Shattuck and noticed she just went to the rim. I just tried to hold her off there and hope it came off the rim, said Stacey White. I had to secured the ball. I wanted them to foul me because I had confidence in my free throws.
Early NIU sharpshooting put the Huskies ahead 25-19 on Stephanie Smiths three-pointer, giving NIU 11 of its first 16 field goals. But the Redbird defense slammed the door at that point, holding NIU to just 1 of 14 the rest of the half and pressuring the Huskies into seven turnovers in the last eight minutes.
Larson scored 13 first-half points and OBrien had six assists with no turnovers as ISU led 34-27 at intermission, their first halftime lead of the season. Katie Donovan and Steph Reichle had seven first-half points apiece.
We forced some turnovers and fast-break points in the first half and we kept running plays for Kristi, said Donovan.
We worked hard in this mini-preseason, said Larson, whose team was playing its first game in two weeks.. We stayed patient and ran our offense and looked at all of our options. Im confident because we have plenty of options.
OBriens three-pointer to open the second half and Donovans bank shot pushed the Redbird lead to 39-27 two minutes into the second half. The Redbirds maintained at least a nine-point lead until Jennifer Youngbloods rebound basket sliced the lead to 48-41 with 9:37 left, part of a 13-3 NIU run to cut the ISU lead to 51-49 with 4:31 left on Kristan Knakes three-point play.
Reichle answered with a 12-foot jumper to put the Birds back up by four. Youngblood cut that back to 53-51 with a jumper with 1:51 left. Monique Davis chopped the lead to 53-52 with a free throw with 1:51 left before NIU had three chances to take the lead, but couldnt convert against the Redbird defense. Larson went to the free throw line with 0:20.9 left and missed, but White got the rebound and was fouled two seconds later. White made the pair to put ISU ahead 55-52, and secured the win.
This was a sweet victory because of way we were tested in the end and kept our composure, Illinois State head coach Jenny Yopp said. This team just keeps improving and handling the pressure well. Northern Illinois put us in a sticky situation and I think this team proved that its focus was on winning the game
We kept it together and i cant attribute that to one player, Yopp continued. So many of these girls have matured and White showed that with her huge rebound and free throws that saved the game. These girls found a way to get it done and I couldnt be more proud of this team right now.
The Redbirds play Western Illinois at 2 p.m. Saturday in Redbird Arena.
