Katie Donovan scored all of hers early and Jaci McCormack hit most of hers late, but the result was that both Illinois State players finished with 15 points as the Redbirds upset Southwest Missouri State 60-56 Thursday before a crowd of 5.634 in Hammons Student Center.
Donovan scored the first 11 points for Illinois State, which led 11-4 after Donovans drive with 15:59 left in the first half. Donovan assisted on a three-pointer by Stacey White, then scored two more buckets of her own for 15 in the first eight points and ISU led 18-9 at the 12-minute time out in the first half.
McCormack scored the last seven points for ISU and 12 of her 15 in the second half as the Redbirds swept Southwest Missouri State in the regular-season series for the first time since the 1988-89 season. Sharon Blade had a career-high 10 rebounds and two blocked shots. McCormack added three steals, while Taren OBrien had six assists. ISU shot 46 percent from the field to SMSs 44. Turnovers were even at 21 each. ISU had a 30-28 rebounding edge and the Birds made 9 of 12 free throws to SMSs 7 of 12.
Donovan, who grew up in Canada a fan of former SMS all-American and national player of the year Jackie Stiles, enjoyed the victory.
I was speechless for about five minutes after the game, said Donovan. Whether you played five minutes or 30 minutes for us tonight, you contributed. It was a team effort. I just love the way the fans get into it here. Its great.
Yopp thought Donovans early offense got her team off right.
We found Katie against their zone and she was aggressive to the basket, said Yopp. Its the best weve executed our offense against the zone early in a game.
The Birds, 6-15 overall, 4-8 in the Missouri Valley, held SMS without a field goal from the 10:29 mark to the 1:59 mark of the first half. ISU led 22-17 with 7:31 left then got a three-point bucket from McCormack, an old-fashioned three-point play from Desiree Gutierrez and layups from Blade and OBrien to go up 32-17 at the two-minute mark. Jenny Lingor, who led the Bears with 16 points, hit a driving shot and a three-pointer to bring the Bears within 32-24 at the intermission. ISU made 14 of its first 24 field goals in the first half while limiting SMS to 6 of its first 21.
More good Redbird defense did the trick through the mid-point of the second half. While McCormack was hitting another three and Zora Skrabalova scored inside, ISU went was holding SMS to one field goal in a seven-minute span which got ISu a 49-37 lead. But Stephanie Busbey went on a scoring binge with three buckets inside to shave the lead to 51-45 with 6;32 left in the game. SMS, 10-11 overall, 6-6 in the Valley, closed to within five on Kari Kochs three-pointer with 3:34 left, then cut the margin to 58-56 with 1:19 left on another three. But McCormack drained two free throws with 54 seconds left and ISU got two more stops to secure the victory, just their fourth against SMS since 1989.
ISU won its fourth road game of the season and its third in succession. Yopp appreciates her teams road toughness.
The Missouri Valley Conference Tournament is not at Illinois State this year, said Yopp (it is in Des Moines). We seem to be more focused on the road. Its a tribute to the leadership of this team that our hard preparation paid off tonight.
Yopp also enjoyed McCormacks cool under pressure at the end. The SMS crowd was on its feet trying to inspire the Lady Bear defense througout the second half.
Jaci is a player nobody ever has to worry about in that situation, said Yopp. Shes just a warrior out there. She had the confidence to keep looking for her shots even though she missed some shots early.
The Redbirds play a 7:05 p.m. game Saturday night against Wichita State, which plays its home games in OShaughnessy Gym at Newman University.
