Jaci McCormacks 11 points and career-high 9 rebounds helped Illinois State survive a tough-shooting first half to beat Portland State, 62-38. Katie Donovan had 19 points and a career-high 8 assists while Zora Skrabalova added 14 points and 11 rebounds of her own as the Redbirds won their third straight for the first time in four years.
The Redbirds, 4-3, came back from a poor first half to shoot 54 percent after intermission and out-rebounded the Vikings, 2-7, 20-10 after halftime, with Skrabalova collecting 10 of those 20 Redbird rebounds after intermission. Portland States 38 points were the fewest scored by a Redbird opponent in 15 seasons in Redbird Arena and were the fewest by a Redbird opponent in exactly 10 years. The Birds beat Iowa State 47-37 Dec. 18, 1993 in Ames.
First half shooting was as cold as todays weather in Central Illinois. The Redbirds made just eight of their first 35 shots and the Vikings werent much better at 7 for 26. Katie Donovans three-pointer gave the Redbirds a 20-17 halftime lead. She scored four of ISUs nine first-half field goals and assisted on three others. Donovans trey was the first of the game after the teams combined to miss 18.
Skrabalovas layup started ISU on an 8-2 spurt which included two buckets by Donovan and a layup by Taren OBrien on her fifth steal of the game to open a 28-21 lead six minutes into the second half. Three minutes later, Donovans drop pass set up a Sophie Tirtiaux layup to start a 12-2 Redbird run to put the game in ISUs hands.
Skrabalova felt that there was a lot of tension heading into this game but the team managed to come together for the win.
We all wanted to win this game so badly that our nerves were getting in the way during the first half, Skrabalova said. During halftime coach got us more relaxed and in the second half we started to make the shots.
Junior guard Jaci McCormack thought the first half was a struggle.
We definitely realized that our shots werent falling in the first half, McCormack said. We looked at it as a challenge and not a down fall. Our team knew that we had to step up to that challenge in the second half..
Coach Robin Pingeton thought the win was a step in the right direction.
That was a tough game, Pingeton said. I am very proud of these girls for hanging in there. I think our shooting was off because we wanted to win too much. At halftime we needed to get refocused and during the second half they seemed a lot more relaxed.
Illinois State concludes a stretch of four games in eight days with a 1:05 p.m. (Central Time) match-up Sunday at Butler. Illinois State will go for its fourth straight win on Sunday, it would mark the teams longest winning streak since the Birds reeled-off eight straight Missouri Valley Conference wins in January, 1997.
