In a game of spurts, Indiana State and Kristin Stewart had the last one, a 9-0 run in the last two minutes for a 57-51 comeback victory Saturday at the Hulman Center in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both teams.
Illinois State attempted 30 three-pointers, a record for three-point field goals attempted and led 51-48 with two minutes left. But the home team had the finishing kick and a huge free throw advantage, making 15 of 19 to Illinois States 2-2.
Kristin Stewart led the Sycamores with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Kourtney Mennen, who struggled most of the game on offense against the Redbird pressure, hit the shot to put Indiana State ahead to stay with 1:01 left. Sharon Blade, a non-starter, and Stacey White had 13 points each to lead the Redbirds, who also got nine points from Steph Reichle and from Beth Huston off the bench.
Redbird coach Jenny Yopp praised her bench for helping get her team back in the game after a couple of long Indiana State scoring runs.
Our point guard and starting center were in foul trouble today, said Yopp. You can see our depth improving. We showed great depth and came back on the road, but we just missed shots we could have made at the end. Give Indiana State credit; they made the shots they needed and really stepped up at the line.
The Redcbirds, 2-8, scored all 21 of their first-half points during an 8:29 span of the first half--between 13:15 and 5:44 on the clock. They also had just seven turnovers, well below average expecially considering Indiana State pressed 94 feet most of the time.
The Sycamores, 5-5, got off to a 13-0 lead on nine points and three blocks by Stewart. Indiana State had a 14-3 rebounding edge in the first four minutes and ISU missed its first nine shots before Katie Donovan ended the draught with a bank shot with 13:15 left in the half.
After April Kirby answered with a three to give the Sycamores a 16-3 lead, the Redbirds scored the next 19 points. The second of back-to-back Stacey White three-pointers tied the score at 16-16. Beth Hustons trey and a layup by White gave the Redbirds a 21-16 lead. Mennens trey--which ended an 8:41 scoring draught for the home team--and another inside shot by Stewart gave Indiana State a tie and Kirby put the Sycamores back ahead 23-21 with a pair of three throws with 1:44 left. Kirby added a jumper to put the Sycamores ahead 25-21 at halftime.They stretched that to 32-21 with Stewart scoring the first two buckets of the second half and Kristy Thomann nailing a three-pointer. Kristi Larsons layup and Steph Reichles trey trimmed the lead to 32-26 with 15:56 left in the game.
The Redbirds battled back with thanks to three buckets by Huston during a 16-5 run, tying the score on a Huston layup taking a lead on a Reichle short jumper with 9:32 left. The teams traded leads until White put the Redbirds up 49-48 on a three-pointer with 2:56 left and Blade followed with a bank shot at 2:01 to give the Birds a 51-48 lead.
Marcie Pahls two free throws cut it to 51-50 and Mennens driving high-banking shot put Indiana State ahead 52-51 with 1:01 remaining. The Redbirds had two chances to get the lead back, but couldnt convert. Stewart, fouled on the second rebound with 34.2 seconds left. She made both shots and Pahl added two more to seal the decision.
