Senior Nadia Peruch pulled down a career high 13 rebounds to help Illinois State hold a 45-29 rebounding edge as the Redbirds held on to defeat Evansville 60-52 in Missouri Valley Conference action Tuesday at Redbird Arena.
The Redbirds, 5-19, 3-12, dominated the boards behind Peruchs career high 13 boards and grabbed 17 offensive caroms. Sharon Blade and Steph Reichle led Illinois State with 11 points, while Peruch added eight points to the winning effort. ISUs last two wins have been against the Aces, beating UE 61-60 at Roberts Stadium last month. Tuesdays win snapped a six-game Redbird losing streak and extended Evansvilles losing streak to five.
The Aces, 11-13, 7-9, were led by Jenna Hayes 14 points and six rebounds. The Birds had a 38.9 to 37.3 shooting advantage from the field, but had 15 of 25 free throws to just 12 of 17 by Evansville.
It (rebounding) was the key to the game last time, Peruch said. I think it really hurt them in the second half with all the second chance points.
The Aces hit 5 of their first 6 field goals and took a 12-4 lead in the first five minutes, but ISU cut that lead in half on back-to-back baskets by Sharon Blade and Kellie Johnson in the next minute.
Evansville grew cold after that fast start, hitting just four of their last 19 and two of their last 12 field goal attempts in the first half. The Redbirds held UE without a field goal in the final 7:27 of the half and led 28-26 at intermission.
ISU scored the first six points of the second half to stretch the lead to 34-26. The Redbird defense finally surrendered a field goal when Jenna Hayes scored with 16:39 left, ending nearly 11 minutes without a field goal. Hayes scored two baskets to cut the lead to 34-30, but ISU opened a 40-31 lead with 11:32 left after three-pointers by Reichle and Shandeen Hunt.
The Redbirds had a pair of 11-point leads, last at 50-39 after a Reichle rebound basket with 5:38 left. But Hayes scored three baskets duinrg a 12-4 UE run which cut the lead to 54-51 with 2:01 left on the second of back-to-back baskets by Langham.
Our defense and rebounding were solid, Illinois State head coach Jenny Yopp said. We knew the key to the second half was handling their pressure and I think we did a good job of that.
UE had a chance to tie with a three-pointer, but Shandeen Hunt stole the ball and started a possession which ended with Peruch passing to Kristi Larson for an eight-foot jump shot to put ISU ahead 56-51.
Austins free throw with 28 seconds left cut the lead to four, but Reichle answered with two.
We had plenty of opportunities tonight, Evansville head coach Tricia Cullop said. I thought they (Illinois State) played a great game. They played with a lot of heart and with a lot emotion. We just didnt match their emotion tonight.
The Redbirds play their final home game of the season at 2:05 p.m. Sunday vs. Southern Illinois.
