Katie Donovan had 21 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists to lead Illinois State past St. Xavier University 102-64 in an exhibition college basketball game at Redbird Arena. Donovans passing and scoring paced the early minutes a mid-second-half run in which ISU scored 44 of the last 60 points over the last 13 minutes. Donovan led six players in double figures scoring as freshman Ashley Sandstead had 20.
Two other freshmen, Lashawn Johnson and Ambert Shelton had 12 points each for ISU, with Sara Stevenson contributing 11 and Holly Hallstrom adding 10 with nine rebounds. The Redbirds had just nine players dressed for the game because of injuries and disciplinary action.
Redbird coach Robin Pingeton thought St. Xavier gave the Redbirds a good fight and exposed them to some pressure on the court.
St. Xavier played very, very hard and was a great opponent for us to go against because they gave us so many different looks out there, especially defensively, said Pingeton. I was pleased with the way our young kids responded with potentially four starters on the bench in street clothes. I think we have the depth to play full-court. Our young kids are getting tremendous minutes and exposure.
Pingeton was pleased with the balance of Donovans numbers.
Katie is doing a great job of fitting into her new role, asid Pingeton. She attracts a lot of attention, but she is so much more physically and mentally mature than a year ago. She went through a period where her shot wasnt falling, but she did other things to help. Shes learning that she will be open sometimes, but her teammates will be able to score because we have a lot more weapons this year offensively.
Veteran SXU coach Bob Hallberg, who had previously coached against Illinois States mens teams at Chicago State and Illinois-Chicago, thought his team battled hard and was impressed with Illinois State.
I knew going into the game that we would be out-matched, but well be fine at our level of play, said Hallberg. We have three more Division I opponents and its good for our players to get this kind of experience. We played a zone because we knew Illinois State was big inside and good outside and we thought the zone would work. But when they start hitting threes, their confidence goes up and they play well.
Sara Zembrzuski led the Cougars with 19 points and Rachel Merkell had 11.
The Redbirds scored 10 points in their first four possessions with Donovan hitting a three-point shot and a conventional three-point play sandwiched around baskets by Hallstrom inside and Tiffany Hudson from the perimeter. But SXU rallied with pressure defense as ISU committed eight turnovers in the next seven minutes and the Cougars went on a 23-8 run to take a 23-18 lead with 9:46 left in the half before the Birds got on a roll. Hallstrom hit a second-chance basket and Sophie Tirtiaux hit two free throws to start a 24-6 Redbird run which featured four three-pointers, two by Sandstead. ISU led 44-32 at halftime.
Sandstead buried another trey on the first possession of the second half to start ISU on a 14-3 blitz, extending the lead to 58-35 with 17:06 left in the game. SXU had an answer: a 13-0 run over the next three minutes to cut the lead to 58-48. But Donovan went to work, hitting Hallstrom for a short jumper, Sandstead for a three and Katie Ward for a layup before hitting two free throws herself to put ISU ahead by 19.
Senior forward Michelle Harakas joined the lengthy list of sidelined Redbirds. She did not play against St. Xavier because of an ankle sprain. Senior guard Jaci McCormack and sophomore guard
Megan McCracken both did not play because of leg injuries. McCormack is expected to return to practice this week, but McCracken likely will not play until after Thanksgiving because of a fracture in her heel.
The Redbirds begin the regular season Friday at Notre Dame in the SportsView.tv Preseason Womens NIT.
