Beth Huston hit a 25-foot three pointer with the shot clock running down and only 34 seconds left in the game to give the Illinois State the lead and propelled the Redbirds to a 57-54 win over Drake in Missouri Valley Conference basketball Sunday at Redbird Arena.
The Redbirds, 12-8 overall, 6-5 the Valley, ended a 14-game losing streak to Drake, 8-12, 5-6, which dated back to the 1996-97 season. It was the longest Illinois State losing streak to any opponent. ISUs six league wins are the most conference victories in a season since the 1997-98 season.
Katie Donovans 11-for-11 free throws propelled her to a game-high 19 points for ISU. Jaci McCormack had 12 and Zora Skrabalova had 11. ISU trailed most of the second half and were behind 52-51 when Huston hit her shot with 34 seconds left to put the Birds ahead.
Neither team shot well for the game--ISU hit 33.3 percent and Drake 30.5--and ISU had a 30-21 halftime lead, but Drake got aggressive on the boards in the second half. In the first 13 minutes after intermission, the Bulldogs had a 25-8 rebounding edge including 12-0 on the offensive glass. That enabled the Bulldogs to rally from a 9-point halftime deficit to a 44-39 advantage with 6:55 left in the game.
McCormacks layup off a nice assist from Chris Kutschinski cut the lead to 44-41 and Taren OBrien cut the lead to 44-43 with two free throws with 5:18 left. After Allison Burchill hit two free throws, OBrien hit a layup to cut it to one again, but Martin hit a three with 4:29 left to give DU a 49-45 lead. A Donovan three-point play with 3:32 cut the lead to 50-49 with 3:32 left. Sayavongchanh hit two free throws with 1:52 remaining to put Drake up 52-49. Skrabalova scored underneath to cut the lead back to 52-51. A charging call gave ISU a chance to get the lead back. After Skrabalova missed a layup and got her own rebound, Huston--one of the top 10 in Redbird history in three-point field goal percentage, beat the shot clock with a 25-foot three-ponter. Free throws by Donovan and Skrabalova sealed the victory for the Birds.
Redbird coach Robin Pingeton saluted Huston, one of the teams leaders, for her deciding shot.
She is what courage is all about, said Pingeton. It couldnt have happened to a better person. Beth is a good shooter. Shes in the gym all of the time. Shes a team player and had filled any role we have asked her to fill. She has done more for this program than will ever show up in the stat sheet.
Pingeton believes the game could be a turning point for her team.
Its a huge win. Weve been on the opposite side of these games recently. To go through the highs and lows that we have the last few days and to come out and pull this one out is great. This was a game to get us over the hump.
Jill Martin, who led Drake with 14 points, scored the first six points of the second half, part of a 13-4 run which got Drake even at 34-34 on Whitney Pegrams three-point play with 14:56 left. Pegrams third straight basket gave DU a 36-34 lead with 12:39 remaining. Illinois State spent the rest of the second half chasing Drake until Hustons trey.
OBrien wasnt surprised with Hustons cool in the clutch.
Beth Huston is such a team player, she has earned that shot and earned the way she feels right now, said OBrien. She practices shots like that all the time. There isnt anybody wed trust more in that situation than Beth. She has earned the confidence of this team.
The Birds start a string of three straight road games with a Thursday match-up at Evansville.
- 30 -
