Dec. 10, 2005
Box Score
Rochester, Mich. -
Sophomore Amber Shelton had a career high 20 points, eight rebounds and eight assists but Oakland University erased a 17-point halftime deficit to force overtime in a on the way to a 73-71 overtime win over Illinois State in a non-conference women's basketball game played at the O'Rena in Rochester.
Shelton and freshman Kristi Cirone each had 12 points as the Redbirds built a 40-23 edge at intermission. The `Birds shook the first half woes they have struggled with all season by hitting 52 percent from the field and limiting Oakland to 30 percent, including 0-3 from three-point range.. Cirone hit all four of her first half shots--all three-pointers. But Oakland battled back, shooting 55 percent from the field and making seven of 10 threes in the second half. Oakland's Jayme Wilson finished the comeback in overtime with two free throws with 1.4 seconds left in overtime to give Oakland the win. She led all scorers with 23 points, 21 of those after halftime.
All seven Oakland points in overtime came from free throws as ISU held OU to 0-4 from the field and four turnovers in the extra period despite playing without 6-foot-5 freshman Nicolle Lewis and 6-foot freshman Brea Banks. Both players fouled out before the end--Lewis with nine points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots; Banks with five points, five rebounds and two steals.
The Redbirds, 4-3, lost their third straight after a 4-0 start, but Redbird coach Robin Pingeton congratulated her team on its effort.
"We're proud of our kids and proud of their effort," said Pingeton. "Losing this game is tough; it came down to a (play) at the end when we thought Lashawn Johnson had all ball, but, in a game like this, you can't let it come down to that."
The Golden Grizzlies, 3-4, got Wilson to the free throw line with 1.4 seconds left on a foul called on Johnson for blocking. The OU senior hit her both throws, and ISU couldn't get a shot on the in-bounds pass. Anne Hafeli backed Wilson's play with 21 points. Cirone finished with 17 for Illinois State.
Cirone got the Redbirds off to a fast start, hitting back-to-back three-pointers to put ISU ahead 10-3. The lead grew to 18-5 as Shelton hit a pull-up jumper followed by a three-pointer from the wing. Cirone's fourth trey of the half put ISU up by 13 with 14:14 left before intermission. At that point, Pingeton went to a lineup not seen previously this early in any game--four freshmen (Banks, Cirone, Brooke Singleton and Lewis) along with either sophomore Ashley Sandstead or Shelton, also a sophomore
Lewis picked up five rebounds, blocked a shot and limited Oakland's ability to drive to the basket, as the Grizzlies made just eight of 27 first-half shots. Meanwhile, the `Birds drained six threes in 12 attempts and shot 52 percent in the first half to take a 40-23 lead in easily the best first half of the season by Illinois State.
ISU stretched the lead to 20 in the first two minutes of the second half with a Shelton three-pointer and a Lewis layup, but Oakland went on a 29-8 run to take a 54-52 lead on April Kidd's two free throws with 10:40 left. Wilson scored 17 of those points.
Shelton responded to OU's first lead with a three-pointer to put ISU back on top and the teams traded leads until 6:40 left when a Banks steal led to her three-pointer to put the "Birds ahead 62-58. But Hafeli hit a three-pointer with 3:20 left and another with 40 seconds left to tie the game. After Shelton missed a three to give ISU the lead with 12 seconds left, the sophomore forward thwarted the Grizzlies' chance to win with a steal under the Oakland basket with less than two seconds left in regulation.
Pingeton was proud of Shelton's play, which included a career high in assists along with the points.
"Amber did a lot for us. This is the kind of effort we know we can expect from Amber and she showed it today," said Pingeton. "We got into foul trouble and, at times, had four freshmen on the floor, but we just weren't able to get the job done. Certainly, our effort today was better, start to finish, than any of our first six games. It's tough to lose this one."
ISU took the overtime lead on a Sandstead free throw. After Nicole Piggott's two free throws put OU back on top, Tiffany Hudson deflected a pass and Cirone came up with a steal, feeding Hudson for a layup to give ISU its last lead, 69-68 with 3:13 left in overtime. Oakland foul shots allowed the Grizzlies to take back the lead and Cirone tied it 71-71 with two free throws at the 1:12 mark. Wilson missed a tough shot inside, but got the rebound and the call against Johnson with 1.4 seconds left.
The Redbirds start Finals Week on Monday and resume play next Saturday, Dec. 17, at Texas-El Paso. The last Redbird game before Christmas will be Dec. 22 against Illinois in the Assembly Hall.
