Nov. 18, 2007
Final Stats
TAMPA, Fla. -
Senior guard Tiffany Hudson and sophomore guard Maggie Krick both recorded career-highs in points to lead the Redbirds (4-0) past South Florida (2-2), 82-57, for the championship of the Best Western Roundball Classic on Sunday, Nov. 18, in Tampa, Fla. The Redbirds outscored the Bulls by 18 points to close out the first half to take control en route to their biggest margin of victory of the season. The Redbirds are 4-0 for the just the third time in the history of the program (1973-74, 2005-06).
Krick led the Redbirds with a career-best 27 points on 10-for-13 shooting, including a career-high five three-pointers. It was the most points scored by a Redbird in a game since junior guard Kristi Cirone had 27 against Evansville on Jan. 6, 2007. Krick also had a career-high eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals.
Hudson netted a career-best 20 points, giving her double-digits in points in four-consecutive games for the first time in her career. She also made four three-pointers in the game. She was named the tournament's MVP after averaging 19 points in the two games.
Hudson, Krick, Cirone and freshman guard Shala Jackson were all named to the all-tournament team, giving the Redbirds four of the six selections. Cirone had 14 points and a game-high nine assists against USF, while Jackson added seven points. Sophomore forward Ashleen Bracey had a game-high nine rebounds for ISU.
Turnovers were a big factor again for ISU, who forced 20 USF miscues and scored 30 points off them. The `Birds also scored 12 points on the fastbreak while holding the Bulls to none. ISU shot better than 50 percent in each half and 53.3 percent (32-60) in the game.
The Redbirds were running right from the opening whistle, jumping out to a 6-3 lead in the first 90 seconds with three fastbreak baskets. A pair of Cirone free throws and back-to-back three-pointers by Hudson and Krick put the Redbirds ahead, 14-5. The Redbirds then went more than five minutes without a field goal, which allowed USF to pull within a basket, 18-16. ISU got back on track with the 24-6 run, highlighted by three-straight three-pointers and four fastbreak buckets, to take its biggest lead of the half, 42-22. South Florida had just two field goals in the final nine minutes of the period.
USF cut the deficit down to 44-29, as forward Jessica Lawson, who finished with a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds, scored the first seven points of the second half for the Bulls. The Redbirds answered with a 21-7 run to extend its lead to 65-36. The'Birds lead got as big as 34 points, 80-46, when Jackson made a mid-range jumper at 4:32.
The Redbirds have a week off until their next game, ISU hosts No. 24 DePaul on Sunday, Nov. 25, at 2:05 p.m.
