Nov. 26, 2005
Box Score
NORMAL, Ill -
Freshman point guard Kristi Cirone scored 17 points and dished out eight assists as the Illinois State women's basketball team defeated in-state rival Northern Illinois 60-50 Saturday afternoon at Redbird Arena. Senior forward Holly Hallstrom also recorded her second consecutive double-double, scoring 15 points and pulling down 12 rebounds for the `Birds.
Illinois State improved to 3-0 on the season for the first time since the 1983-84 season. Stephanie Raymond led the Huskies, 1-3, with 10 points.
After Illinois State and Northern Illinois traded baskets to begin the first half, the Huskies' offense committed six turnovers with the Redbirds capitalizing with a 12-0 scoring run with four points from sophomore forward Amber Shelton. But the Huskies bounced back on a 12-3 scoring run, backed by four points from senior center Jennifer Uptmor to cut the Redbird lead to 24-23 at halftime.
The Redbirds came out firing in the beginning of the second half with freshman center Nicolle Lewis scoring seven points on a 9-2 run. The Huskies narrowed the margin to 47-43 with 8:48 left on a layup from Kristin Wiener.
Illinois State only scored two field goals in the final eight minutes, but made enough free throws and enough defensive stops to keep the Huskies from getting too close. A Raymond free throw with 3:47 left cut the margin to 55-50, but Northern Illinois didn't score again. Four missed free throws, five missed field goals and three turnovers helped ISU finish the game on a 5-0 run.
Neither team shot well. NIU shot 36 percent from the field, 14 percent from the three-point line and 54 percent from the free throw line. ISU shot 38 percent from the field, 22 percent from three-point range and 43 percent from the free throw line, which explains to why head coach Robin Pingeton believes that the `Birds' defense was crucial to their victory.
"Today was a great win for us," said Pingeton. "Defensively we were solid all night, holding them to 50 points. Nevertheless, we are still young and have a lot to work on."
The Redbirds will play South Alabama on Monday, November 28th at 7:05 p.m. at Redbird Arena.
