Dec. 2, 2007
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YPSILANTI, Mich. -
YPSILANTI, Mich. - Senior guard Tiffany Hudson led all scorers with a career-high 24 points as Illinois State (6-1) cruised to a 79-61 road victory over Eastern Michigan (4-3) on Sunday, Dec. 2. For the second-consecutive game, the Redbirds led from wire to wire to achieve their best start to a season since 1976-77.
Hudson scored 12 points in each half and finished 10-for-16 from the field, both career-best marks. She tied her career-high with four three pointers and has set or tied her career-high in points for the fourth time this season. Junior guard Kristi Cirone joined her backcourt mate with 20 points on 9-for-12 shooting, and added six assists. Sophomore forward Ashleen Bracey was just a rebound shy of her second-consecutive double-double, with 14 points and nine boards. Sophomore guard Maggie Krick contributed six rebounds and six assists.
The Redbirds jumped out to a 7-0 lead with baskets on their first three possessions, led by five points from Hudson. After consecutive Eagle baskets, ISU rattled off another seven unanswered to go ahead by nine, 14-5, at the 15:53 mark. A layup by Cirone at 12:04 gave the Redbirds their first double-digit lead of the game, 23-13.
After Eastern Michigan cut the deficit down to five points with nine minutes remaining in the first half, the Redbirds opened up a 17-9 run to close out the period and take a 42-29 lead into the locker room at halftime. ISU shot a sizzling 59.4 (19-32) percent from the field in the first half, its best shooting percentage in the opening frame this season.
Hudson continued her strong play into the second half as she made three-consecutive baskets to help the Redbirds built an 18-point lead, 52-34. The Redbirds maintained a comfortable cushion throughout the second half, never letting the Eagles any closer than 13 points. A jumper by freshman guard Shala Jackson put ISU ahead by 20 points for the first time, 71-50, and a free throw by freshman guard Amanda Clifton gave the `Birds their biggest lead of the contest, 77-54, with justunder three minutes left in the contest. ISU led by double-figures for the final 22:38 of the game.
Eastern Michigan relied heavily on the three-pointer as five of its 11 field goals in the first half were from beyond the arc. They struggled shooting the three in the second half, making just three fron long range. Guard Alyssa Pittman made all five first half three-pointers and led the Eagles with 17 points at the break, but was held to just five points on 1-of-6 shooting from the field in the second half.
Illinois State continues its road trip with a game at Ball State (3-4) on Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 6:05 p.m. CST.
