Nov. 17, 2006
Box Score
CHICAGO -
The outstanding second-half play by Lashawn Johnson, who finished with 12 points, including 10 in the second half, combined with Kristi Cirone's double-double off 11 points and 10 assists, lifted the Illinois State women's basketball team over Stony Brook, 73-63, in the opening game of the DePaul Invitational on Friday night. Johnson hit five free throws during a 22-6 finish over the final 5:30 by ISU.
The Redbirds move to 2-1 as the Seawolves drop to 0-2.
Leading all scorers was ISU freshman Kenyatta Shelton with 19, as fellow first-year player Maggie Krick tossed in 13 for the Redbirds. Stony Brook was led by Mykeema Ford with 17 points and Dana Ferraro who added 12.
Illinois State head coach Robin Pingeton was impressed with the fight that her team showed to regain the lead and secure the win. The `Birds trailed 57-51 heading into the final six minutes, but used aggressive defense to come back for the 10-point win.
"I'm just really proud of our kids," said Pingeton. "There was a time in the second half with about six and a half minutes left to go when we were down and we had a chance to give up or stand strong and fight for the win. I just thought they did a tremendous job at the end of stepping up and hitting some key free throws to put the game away."
Despite committing 11 turnovers in the first half, including two in the first minute that resulted in Stony Brook baskets, Illinois State went into halftime with a 31-29 lead. The Redbirds were led by nine first-half points by Shelton, and Krick, who added another eight points for the `Birds. Cirone, who missed her first eight field goals, threw in two points on a pair of free throws, while dishing out seven assists in the opening frame.
Threatened by two turnovers on consecutive offensive possessions, the Redbirds fell to a 4-0 deficit in the first minute, as Stony Brook's center Jessica Smith connected on a pair of free throws and a layup. But ISU responded, finally taking a 8-6 lead at the 16:16 mark, sparked by baskets from guards Sara Stevenson and Krick.
The Seawolves slowly battled back, led by junior forward Ferraro, who scored six of the next 15 SBU points on jumpers from inside the paint. ISU's Crick added a trey, followed by a Shelton hook shot to put the `Birds up 31-29 at intermission, despite 11 Redbird first-half turnovers.
Redbird sophomore Nicolle Lewis came out after the half, hitting a layup and blocking a pair of Seawolves' shots to spark the Illinois State defense. Krick tossed in a layup at the 15:39 mark, drawing the foul and connecting on the free throw, putting the Redbirds up, 40-37. A four-and-a-half minute Stony Brook scoring drought ended with 12:30 left in the game with the Seawolves scoring on consecutive possessions to come within a basket, 43-41.
SBU's Ford tied the game at 44 on a three-pointer from the top of the key, the first time the score was tied since both teams had 29 points in the first half. Shelton put the `Birds back up, 46-44, on the ensuing possession with a turnaround jumper with 10:38 left to play. Stony Brook regained its first lead since the game's opening minutes, 48-46, on a pair of Cheri Davis free throws. Ford extended the lead to four, 50-46, also draining a pair from the charity stripe, and the Seawolves stretched that lead to 57-51 before the final Redbird run.
Illinois State sophomore Johnson scored five of the Redbirds' next seven points, dominating the paint for a pair of layups, while also collecting a steal on defense. Shelton then added a pair of jumpers of her own, the second at the 4:12 mark and bringing the `Birds within three, 61-58. Johnson gave the `Birds the lead, their first in over five minutes, 62-61, finishing two free throws with 2:09 left to play.
The Redbirds drained 11 consecutive shots from the line to close the game and secure their second win.
Illinois State returns to action Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m., taking on the winner of DePaul and Yale, at the McGrath Arena on the campus of DePaul University.
