Zora Skrabalova broke a redbird record by making all nine of her field goal attempts on the way to a career-high 20 points, but not much else went well for Illinois State in a 73-70 defeat at Drake.
Redbird senior point guard Taren O'Brien left the game in the first half after being struck in the face. O'Brien did not return and the 'Birds, hampered by 29 turnovers--19 in the first half--struggled the rest of the way. Katie Donovan had 17 points and Jaci McCormack added 14 plus a career-high 6 steals before fouling out late in theg ame. Skrabalova, who made her second start of the season, also had 9 rebounds to lead the 'Birsd, who out-boarded Drake 34-28 for the agme.
Redbird coach Robin Pingeton was happy to hear of Skrabalova's record, which eclipsed a 7-for-7 effort by Melodie Adams for ISU Nov. 20, 1982 against Illinois-Chicago.
"Good for Zora," said Pingeton. "She worked hard. She made her first start in a while and stayed out of foul trouble. We know Zora is going to get better. She is working hard all the time."
Pingeton was less imperssed with her team's turnover-laden performance.
"Twenty-nine turnovers is way too many," said Pingeton. "We were not ready to play and that's our fault. You can't have 19 turnovers in a half. Give Drake credit; they had a great game play and defensed us well."
The Redbirds, 8-5 overall, 2-2 in the Valley, dropped their 11th straight game at Drake and their 14th in a row overall to the Bulldogs, who got a career-high 21 points from freshman Jill Martin. She led four Drake players in double figures scoring.
A three-pointer by McCormack, follwoed by two treys in a row by Donovan and a Donovan driving layup helped ISU take an 11-5 lead early, but Drake got rolling and eventually went ahead 25-24 on Erin Dohrmann's basket with 7:08 left.
That started an 11-0 Drake run which Skrabalova broke with a free throw with 3:50 left in the half. Drake led 34-24 then, and stretched that margin to 43-29 at intermission.
Better defense and ball movement helped ISU start the second half with a 9-0 run fueled by five points and three rebounds by Skrabalova. But Drake answered with a 12-2 spurt and went back up double-digits to stay.
The Redbirds return to Redbird Arena for three straight home league games starting at 7:05 p.m. Friday against Evansville.
