Stacey White hit two free throws with 16.1 seconds left in overtime to give Illinois State a 75-73 win at Evansville in Missouri Valley Conference play.
The Redbirds, 5-11 overall, 3-4 in the Valley, won their second straight and third in their last four games thanks to Taren OBriens 18 points and 15 by Jaci McCormack. Zora Skrabalova had 11 points and 12 rebounds, leading a Redbird bench which had 40 points and 21 rebounds to just 11 points and two rebounds by UE subs. ISU swept its first two-game Valley road trip since the 1997-98 season.
The Aces, 9-7, 3-4 in the Valley drew a womens basketball record crowd of 3,422 on Hall of Fame Day at Roberts Stadium. Jamie Gray had 21 points and 14 rebounds for UE, while Jenna Hayes had 16 points and eight rebounds.
After leading 30-29 at halftime, the Redbirds rode eight points by Taren OBrien in the first eight minutes to pull to a 48-41 lead. But Evansville started to pound the ball inside and six straight points by Jenna Hayes gave the Aces a 51-50 lead with 5:37 left. Alissa Kirbys three-pointer put UE ahead 54-50 with 4:52 remaining, but Whites three-point play inside and Sharon Blades move down the baseline got the Birds back in front 55-54 with 3:51 left.
ISU led 62-58 after OBriens layup with 1:44 left, but UE came back with a bucket by Hayes and two free throws by Gray to send the game to overtime. UE led 64-63 and had a chance to open it further early in overtime by Sara Stevensons steal and layup put ISU back on top. After a Gray layup, OBrien and Allissa Kirby exchanged three-pointers and UE led by one. But McCormacks trey with 1:41 left put the Birds up 71-69. Hayes answered inside. McCormack hit a pull-up jumper with 1:01 left to give ISU a 73-71 lead. Grays two free throws with 42 seconds left caused the last tie.
OBrien missed a free throw with 17.9 left, but White got the rebound and ISU got the ball on a tie-up. On the inbound play, Hayes ran over White setting a screen and the junior buried her fourth and fifth free throws of the game to make the difference.
Stacey is the right player for us to have in that situation, said Yopp. She is completely confident. She heard the big crowd, and, since shes a Hoosier (from West Lebanon), she probably thought they were cheering for her. Stacey has won big games for us before.
White was confident.
I like to be in that situation, said White, who only scored seven points in the game. We worked hard and deserved this win.
A squeaky close first half featured 13 lead changes and no lead bigger than six as Skrabalova scored nine points and grab eight rebounds. McCormack, filling the point guard role most of the half, had eight points and a pair of assists. The half was a see-saw battle until a Gray scored a three-pointer and a short bank shot to put UE ahead 26-20 with 4:19 left. The Birds answered with inside baskets, one by Michelle Harakas and two by Blade. After a Kirby three-pointer put UE ahead 29-26, Skrabalova hit a free throw and Stevenson drained a long three from the left wing to give ISU a 30-29 halftime lead. It not only was the Redbirds first halftime lead in a Valley game this season, but they hadnt been closer than down eight in any of their previous six league games.
Illinois State begins a four-game homestand with a game against defending Valley champion Creighton at 7:05 p.m. Thursday at Redbird Arena.
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