Jan. 6, 2007
Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. - Sophomore point guard Kristi Cirone scored a game-high 27 points for the second consecutive game to lead a foursome of Redbirds in double figures as Illinois State claimed sole possession of first place in the Missouri Valley Conference with an 89-81 win over host Evansville in a battle of previously unbeaten teams at Roberts Stadium Saturday afternoon. With the win, ISU improves to a perfect 4-0 in the Valley, and sits alone atop the league standings.
Kenyatta Shelton, playing on an injured foot, contributed 18 points and tore down eight rebounds; Megan McCracken, making her second consecutive start, hit four three pointers en route to 16 points, and Tiffany Hudson chipped in 15 points to go along with nine assists off the bench. Lashawn Johnson scored nine points and pulled down a career-high tying 12 rebounds in the game. Evansville also put four players in double figures, led by Rebekah Parker's 19 points.
In one of Illinois State's (11-4, 4-0 MVC) most up-tempo contests of the season, the Redbirds ended the first half on a 23-13 run to take a commanding 49-35 lead at halftime. In the second half, the Purple Aces (10-5, 3-1 MVC) cut the Redbird lead to 10 points twice in the final three minutes, but didn't chip further into the advantage until the game was well in hand with less than a minute remaining.
ISU head coach Robin Pingeton was pleased with her team's offensive efficiency, and acknowledged that their road sweep over Southern Illinois and Evansville was significant to their goal of capturing a league championship.
"You can't say enough about our kids' effort today," said Pingeton. "When you're playing a team with an up-tempo style like Evansville, you have to have players that are able to step up and hit tough shots, and I thought we got that out of our kids today.
"Even though we have some young kids out there, we are getting better each day and each game. We still have a lot of work to do, but I've been impressed with team's focus, their attention to detail, and willingness to make adjustments. This was a tough road swing for us, and will continue to be for the rest of the team's in the Valley. For us to come up with two victories (against Southern Illinois and Evansville) is very significant. Our kids should be proud of what they have accomplished in the past two games."
Shelton got the Redbirds going early; scoring six quick post points to give ISU 6-0 lead less than two minutes into the game. But Evansville pulled within one point (9-8) with 16:46 left after six points by Parker. The game was tied seven times in the ensuing seven minutes before the `Birds completed a 15-5 spurt to claim a double-digit advantage (41-31) with 2:42 remaining in the first half. McCracken jumpstarted the run with a three-pointer, and Hudson had three field goals in the stretch.
After Shannon Novosel's layup pulled Evansville pulled within 11 points, 46-35, with 53 seconds left, McCracken gave Illinois State their biggest lead of the half with a three-pointer as time expired in the stanza. Shelton led the Redbird offensive attack in the first half with 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting, while McCracken (11) and Cirone (10) each collected double-digit scoring efforts.
Both teams went cold from the floor in the early stages of the second half, as there were just five combined points between the `Birds and Aces in the first three and a half minutes. ISU kept the pressure on, stretching its lead to as many as 19 points (60-41) in the ensuing 2:20. Evansville recorded an 11-1 run between the 10 and seven minute mark, cutting the ISU lead to 68-58 with 7:32 left.
But the Redbirds answered with an 11-6 spurt paced by two quick Cirone field goals, and re-claimed a 79-66 lead with just over three minutes left. Illinois State hit eight free throws in the final two and a half minutes to hold off a late Evansville surge and preserve the win.
The `Birds out-rebounded the Purple Aces 37-29, and recorded a 48-30 advantage in the paint.
ISU's 4-0 start in MVC play marks its most successful beginning to a league slate since the 1995-96 season, when they topped Bradley, Northern Iowa, Indiana State and Wichita State en route to finishing the conference season with a 14-4 record.
The Redbirds will return home next week for two games against Valley foes Wichita State and Missouri State. Thursday's tip-off against the Shockers is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Redbird Arena.
