Taren O'Brien scored 11 of her team-high 18 points in the second half and Zora Skrabalova added 14 as Illinois State snapped a four-game losing streak with a 61-59 win over the University of Portland Sunday at the Chiles Center.
The Redbirds, 2-6, used a 45-26 rebounding edge including nine each by Katie Donovan and Skrabalova. The Redbirds overcame second half foul problems--they had 15 fouls after intermission--with strong rebounding and defense. The Pilots, 3-6, shot just 36 percent from the field and made just 4 of 17 three pointers. Portland entered the game averaging 8 three-pointer field goals per game.
Illinois State coach Jenny Yopp thought the keys to the game were that the Redbirds played with confidence, used their bench strength and their rebounding advantage as they won their final game before Christmas for the third straight year.
"We would like to pack up the confidence we showed today and take it home with us and bring it back after Christmas," said Yop, who inserted sophomore Erin Keeney in the starting lineup for Skrabalova. The ISU bench out-produced Portland's subs 34-18 in scoring, 19-6 in rebounding. "We got so many contributions from so many players. We had to overcome foul problems and stay solid and we did that right to the end."
Khalia O'Rielly-Williams, who led all scorers with 24 points, scored three early baskets to get Portland out to a 15-4 lead in the first five minutes. Blade scored inside and Skrabalova scored eight straight ISU points as the 'Birds cut that lead to 24-19 with 7:51 left in the half.
O'Brien's layup off a Donovan pass cut the lead to three. After two Pilot free throws, O'Brien's gliding layup cut the margin to 26-25.
ISU stayed in chase mode until the final minute of the half, remaining within one-to-four points until Stacey White drained a three-pointer as the shot clock drained to slice the Pilot lead to 31-30 with 45 seconds left. White's steal at the other end sete up a sparkling O'Brien assist for a Michelle Harakas layup to give Illinois State a 32-31 halftime lead.
"It's very important for us that Stacey stay aggressive," said Yopp. "She is a scoring threat whenever she gets the ball and the momentum she helped us get at the end of the first half was huge. That's the best first half we've played on the road all year and it was good enough to result in a lead."
The first eight minutes of the second half were a tug-o'-war, but Sophie Tirtiaux's three-pointer with 12:15 left put ISU up 45-42. O'Brien added a free throw and her three pointer finished a 9-2 Redbird spurt which gave Illinois State its biggest lead, 51-44, with 8:17 left. O'Rielly-Williams started a Portland rally, though, which ended with a Jamie Medley free throw to put the Pilots back on top 56-55 with 3:33 left.
White's two free throws 20 seconds later put ISU back on top 57-56 and Blade's short jumper in traffic with 2:20 left gave the 'Birds a 59-56 lead. Whitney Grant erased that with a three pointer to tie the game at 59-59 with 74 seconds left. But that was all the Redbird defense would allow. They took the lead for good with 1:01 left on a Blade free throw. The teams exchanged turnovers before the Pilots got possession with 32 seconds left and decided to go for the last shot.
Hanna Seltzer wanted a three-pointer, but tight defense from Jaci McCormack prevented that so she drove. Her pressured, off-balance jumper missed with 2 seconds left and ISU got the rebound. O'Brien was hacked on the next play and made the first of two free throws to finish the scoring.
Yopp enjoyed the fact that the defense decided the game.
"We got solid defensive efforts from lots of people," said Yopp. "Des (Gutierrez), Sophie, Jaci ... everyone contributed. Portland is a quality program with an experienced coach (Jim Sollars) who knows how to prepare his team offensively. We hope that this will give us the confidence to carry forward."
The Redbirds return home to meet the Indiana Hoosiers Dec. 30 at Redbird Arena in the final non-conference game of the season.
