Jaci McCormack scored 19 points, while Katie Donovan had 17 and
Megan McCracken added 17 to go with a career-high nine assists in an 85-60 Illinois State win over Drake in a Missouri Valley Conference womens basketball game Thursday at Redbird Arena.
The Redbirds, 7-12, 4-6 in the Valley, used an overpowering display of offense, defense and rebounding to build a 48-28 halftime lead. Shooting 67 percent from the field and hitting 6-of-10 three-pointers, out-rebounding the Bulldogs 28-5 and limiting Drake to 10 of 28 field goals. Drake hit all six of its free throws and Jill Martin had 15 points, but the Redbirds held DU without an offensive rebound in the first 21 minutes. ISU scored 48 points in the first half compared to just 47 in a 68-47 loss at Drake a month ago.
Redbird coach Robin Pingeton appreciated the difference in her teams play.
We had a much different approach than we did 29 days ago in Des Moines. We played with a lot of toughness tonight, paid attention to detail, cut harder, knocked down some shots, but I was most pleased with our defense, said Pingeton. To hold a team like that to 60 points speaks volumes to our intensity level. We were a different team tonight.
McCormack, who made 7 of 11 field goals including 5 of 6 three-pointers, agreed with how her team got going. She was 4-for-4 in the first half, including three three-pointers. She had five rebounds and four steals, while McCracken had a career-high five steals.
It was unbelievable how much teamwork we had in that first half, said McCormack, who acknowledged that it might have been the best half of basketball her team had every played. I just feel like we are playing like a team.
McCormack shot 4-4 field goals, including three of them from three-point range, to share the scoring lead with Hallstrom at 11 in the first half. The Bulldogs, 9-10, 4-6 in the Valley, were led by Jill Martin with 22 and Brandy Dahir with 20.
ISU shot well early, but some early turnovers helped Drake battle to a 16-16 tie on Martins two free throws. Hallstrom started a 16-0 Redbird run with a driving layup and free throw three-point play. McCrackens jumper was quickly followed by McCormack and Donovan three-pointers. Holly Hallstrom scored twice more from inside and ISU ahd a 15-0 run which took just 3:17 on the clock Brandy Dahir broke the string with a short jumper, but Hallstrom responded with another score inside and Donovan hit a layup to put ISU ahead 35-18 with 3:42 left in the half.
The Redbirds led by as many as 31, 63-32 five minutes into the second half. Drake rallied with a 20-2 run from the 14:10 mark to the 6:49 left in the game, cutting the lead to 65-50. A McCracken jumper, a McCracken three-pointer, a McCormack turnaround jumper and a Donovan layup gave ISU a 9-0 run and a 74-52 lead heading into the final four minutes.
McCracken likes how her team is playing in the wake of this win and an 81-44 decision Sunday over Southern Illinois.
Right now, were playing the best team basketball weve played all year and theres no better time to do that than the second half of the conference schedule, said McCracken.
McCormack thought a key time was when the Birds stopped the second-half run.
Every good team has its good runs and Drake got going. The key is to stay composed and still get your stops, said McCormack. We came back after their run and got some stops we needed.
The Redbirds play at 2:05 p.m. Sunday against conference leader Creighton, which lost at Indiana State 79-76 on Friday.
