Junior center Holly Hallstroms 23 points against No. 10-ranked Notre Dame broke an Illinois State record for points by a player in her first game as a Redbird and, for her performance, Hallstrom was selected as the initial Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week.
Hallstrom needed just 24 minutes of court time to pick up her 23 points and 8 rebounds at Notre Dame, the eventual champion of the Sportsview.tv Preseason Womens NIT. The 6-foot-2 junior transfer from Kirkwood Community College who prepped at Moline High School scored 19 of her points after halftime and played most of the last 11 minutes of the game with four fouls. Hallstrom made eight of 13 field goals and seven of 10 free throws in her effort.
The 23-point effort by a Redbird player in her first game eclipsed the previous mark of 22 set by Sharon Blade in the 1999-2000 opener. Hallstrom is the first player in Redbird history to earn the Valley Newcomer of the Week award.
The Redbirds and Hallstrom get back in action this weekend against No. 19 Kansas State at 5 p.m. Friday in the Junkanoo Jam Tournament in the Bahamas. Illinois State has its regular-season home opener Dec. 1 vs. Ball State in Redbird Arena.
