Jan. 20, 2006
Box Score
Normal, Ill. -
Amber Shelton scored 18 points and Lori Trumblee added a season-high 15, while a stifling Redbird defense did much of the rest as Illinois State defeated Missouri State 64-55 in a Missouri Valley Conference women's basketball game Friday at Redbird Arena.
The Redbirds got 10 points from Kristi Cirone and 10 points and 13 rebounds from Holly Hallstrom to break a six-game losing streak and improve to 6-9 overall, 1-5 in the Missouri Valley. ISU shot 37 percent from the field to just 33 for the Bears as ISU limited Kari Koch to 13 points. The nation's second-leading scorer had just 13 points, but seven of those came in the final 70 seconds. Koch's average is 22.5 per game.
In the first half, there were eight lead changes and the score was tied four times. Shelton finished Illinois State's first half scoring with back-to-back steal-and-lay-up plays, the last giving Illinois State a 25-24 lead at the intermission. Shelton saluted her teammates for the strong defensive showing.
"Everyone came prepared and knew exactly how to guard MSU," said Shelton. "We knew they had great shooters and we had to know where they were at the entire game. Communication was a big key tonight because we had to identify where shooters were at all times. It is so nice to finally get rolling with our first conference win."
Shelton kept up her scoring early in the second half, taking another steal the length of the floor to put ISU up three in the first two minutes. After two MSU free throws, Shelton buried a three-pointer to put ISU up 30-26. After Sarah Klaassen hit a three for the Bears, Lori Trumblee sank a jumper. Megan McCracken, who had four of ISU's eight steals drained a three-pointer and Shelton converted another jump shot and ISU led 37-29 with 13:16 left in the game.
Cirone had a record-breaking night with her 29th three point shot, giving her the Illinois State record for three pointers by a freshman.
ISU took a 44-34 lead with 8:37 left, but MSU, 8-7, 3-3 in the Valley, went on an 8-0 run to cut that lead to two points with 5:17 left. Trumblee hit her first career three point field goal, then drained a baseline jumper and next added two free throws to spur a 12-2 run which put Illinois State ahead 56-44 with 1:23 left, and in control of the game.
MSU made just eight of 28 field goals in the second half and ISU controlled the boards with a 23-15 second-half edge, with Hallstrom collecting eight of those 23 rebounds.
Sophomore Tiffany Hudson didn't score in the game, but had seven rebounds, four assists and no turnovers while guarding Koch much of the time as the all-conference guard made just three of 14 field goal attempts.
"I just took it like any other player," said Hudson. "I prepared myself after coach gave us a great game plan to limit Koch and (Sarah) Klaassen. Our communication was big, and that helped us. Koch is a great player, but my teammates had my back. If I got beat, they were there."
Redbird coach Robin Pingeton is appreciative of her team's first league win of the season.
"I can't tell you how excited I am for our kids," said Pingeton. "I felt like we really stressed maximizing our effort on the court. We followed the scouting report really well. You could sense the focus and energy tonight."
The `Birds got a boost from the 6-foot-3 Trumblee, who had scored just 10 points and played just 54 minutes previously. Her 15 points came in 28 minutes in her first start since transferring from Murray State in 2004.
"It doesn't surprise me about Lori, She can really be an anchor for us with her size," said Pingeton. "Lori got into a slump early in the season, but lately, I've notice more confidence. She's a great three point shooter and it just goes to show that everyone needs to be ready."
Pingeton was happy with Illinois State's defense and poise.
"We only had 11 turnovers, which is a season low for us," said Pingeton "We created opportunities to get great shots off."
Trumblee's first three pointer of her three-year college career wasn't a surprise to her.
"Coach lets me do it in practice and her philosophy is if you have it, shoot it," said Trumblee.
The Redbirds will continue their home weekend against Wichita State at 2:05 p.m. Sunday in Redbird Arena.
