Nov. 13, 2005
Final Stats
NORMAL, Ill. -
Holly Hallstrom scored 17 of her game-high 22 points in the first half and Megan McCracken scored 13 of her 16 points in the second half as Illinois State beat Northwest Missouri State 93-58 in a women's college basketball exhibition game Sunday at Redbird Arena.
Freshman point guard Kristi Cirone and center Nicolle Lewis both joined the ISU starting lineup. Cirone had 18 points and nine assists. Lewis blocked two of the first six Bearcat shots, and added seven points and five rebounds for the game. The Redbird defense converted three early turnovers into baskets to take a 12-4 lead in the first seven minutes. But, Northwest clawed back to within 14-10 with 10:28 left in the half.
After Ashley Sandstead drained a three-pointer from the corner, Hallstrom scored inside to give ISU a 19-10 lead. Following a Kelli Nelson trey for the Bearcats, Hallstrom scored the next 10 Redbird points on a variety of spin moves inside, along with a 16-foot jumper from the key.
The Redbirds got late baskets from Brea Banks and Lewis to take a 46-29 lead at halftime. ISU shot 53 percent from the field and out-rebounded the Bearcats 28-12 in the first 20 minutes. Two early baskets by Megan McCracken and Lewis, plus defensive efforts which forced four NWMSU turnovers in the first four minutes and Illinois State pulled ahead by 20 early in the second half. ISU's biggest lead of the day was 35, which was reflected in the final score at 93-58.
Redbird coach Robin Pingeton was happy with the way her team's depth allowed the `Birds to pull away.
"We try to wear down our opponents with a team approach," said Pingeton. "I think our kids are really starting to understand the momentum of the game, time-and-score, and mismatch opportunities. To see our team making changes today was great."
Bearcats coach Gene Steinmeyer has known Pingeton for quite a while. The Redbird head coach got her first career head coaching win 15 years ago when Pingeton's St. Ambrose team beat Steinmeyer's Hastings team.
"Robin and I go way back," said Steinmeyer. "They adjusted well to our defense after the first 10 minutes, but they adjusted and got the ball down on the block and really reacted well to what we were doing defensively. We couldn't defend Hallstrom or keep her off the boards. Then, of course, we did a nice job on McCracken for about 10 minutes and then we lost her."
ISU out-shot the Bearcats .522 to .379 and out-rebounded NWMSU 51-27, as Shelton had 10 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals.
McCracken appreciated her team's inside game opening up opportunities from the perimeter, as the `Birds had eight three-pointers on the day.
"We utilized our inside game and I think that will make us much more effective," said McCracken. "Our posts did a great job."
The Redbirds open the regular season Friday with a 7:05 p.m. game at Chicago State.
