With 14 points, 12 rebounds and 6 blocked shots, Zora Skrabalova arguably had the best game of her two-year Illinois State career while helping the Redbirds beat Illinois-Chicago 74-64 Sunday in Redbird Arena. But the play that brought the fans to their feet for the 6-foot-5 native of the Czech Republic came in the final minute, when she sprinted from the free throw lane to near mid-court, intercepting a UIC pass while taking a hit to the back of her legs from a diving UIC player. Skrabalova jumped to her feet and the fans gave her an ovation.
Redbird coach Robin Pingeton, whose team travels to Indianapolis to take on IUPUI Tuesday, applauded Skrabalovas hustle and effort, but is even more impressed with her senior centers desire to learn.
I was very proud of Zora for the way she played (against UIC), said Pingeton, whose Redbirds are 2-3 and trying to be .500 or better after six games for the first time in five years. Zora still has things to learn and I give her credit--shes a senior, but she still recognizes that she has things to learn and wants to learn them.
Skrabalova, like many of the Redbird players, has had impressive stretches through the first five games of the season. Now, Pingeton is looking for more consistency and better performances at the things that help a team win on the road.
There have been practices where Zora has been unstoppable, said Pingeton. Were just looking for that kind of performance day in and day out.
Pingeton was happy with her teams effort, particularly on defense, against UIC. The Flames shot just 29.5 percent from the field, the lowest percentage by an Illinois State foe in Redbird Arena in nearly eight years. But Pingeton is concerned that her teams ballhandling (22 turnovers vs. UIC) and its tendency to give up second shots (three opponents have had 20 or more offensive rebounds against the Birds).
When youre trying to win on the road, you have to take care of the ball, said Pingeton whose team is shooting .328 on the road compared to.409 in home games. You have to play like every possession is an important possession and we cant continue to give up offensive rebounds like we have and we cant turn the ball over like we have. Those things give the other team extra possessions. On the road, youre dealing with enough other things, like unfamiliar surroundings, that you have to value every possession.
Pingetons concern with IUPUI, 1-5, is that the Jaguars play a number of defenses.
They will throw a lot of different defenses against us and they will press us, which is something we really havent seen a lot of, said Pingeton.
Those defenses will call for continuing improvement from starting guards Taren OBrien and Jaci McCormack. Both appear to have escaped from season-long shooting slumps in the second half against IUPUI. Shooting a combined 9-for-15 from the field including 4-for-6 from three-point range after halftime, the duo teamed up for 9 rebounds, 9 assists and 6 steals.
Illinois State continues its four games in eight days schedule with a 7:05 p.m. Thursday match-up against Portland State. The schedule blitz finishes with a Sunday afternoon game at Butler.
