Dec. 4, 2007
Final Stats |
Quotes
MUNCIE, Ind. -
Sophomore forward Ashleen Bracey recorded her second double-double in the last three games to lead Illinois State (7-1) past Ball State (3-5), 71-54, in a non-conference road game on Tuesday, Dec. 4. Bracey led the Redbirds with a career-high 18 points, on 9-of-13 shooting, and 10 rebounds. She has scored in double-figures in the last three games, the longest streak of her career.
Sophomore center Nicolle Lewis scored a season-high 14 points to go along with nine rebounds and a season-best four blocks. Lewis had 10 points and six rebounds in the second half to help ISU hold off Ball State. On a night where the Redbirds struggled shooting the ball from long range, the post dominance of Bracey and Lewis was pivotal to the victory as ISU scored 50 points in the paint as opposed to just 14 for Ball State.
Junior guard Kristi Cirone added 10 points and a game-high seven assists. Sophomore guard Maggie Krick chipped in nine points and three assists and junior forward Lashawn Johnson tied her season-high with three assists as well.
After not trailing in the previous two games, the Redbirds fell behind 9-4 in the first four minutes as Ball State made its first two three-point field goals. The Redbirds did not trail for long as they went on a 28-6 run, led by 16 points by Bracey, to take a 32-15 lead. Ball State chipped away with an 8-2 run, but the Redbrids answered with three fastbreak layups in the final minute to take a 40-26 lead into the locker room.
The Redbirds scored 30 points in the paint and had 16 come off of 11 Ball State turnovers. For the first time this season, Illinois State did not have a three-point field goal in a half. Ball State made only seven field goals in the first half, with just four coming in the final 16 minutes of play.
After ISU scored the first six points of the second half, Ball State answered with 10 straight points to cut the deficit to 10, 46-36. The Redbirds answered with a quick7-2 run, including their first three-point field of the game by Krick. Ball State came right back with a 9-2 run in just over a minute to stay within 10, 55-45, with just under eight minutes remaining. That is as close as Ball State would get as ISU outscored the Cardinals17-9 the rest of the way.
The Redbirds have nearly two weeks off before their next game at Miami (Ohio) on Sunday, Dec. 16, at 1:05 p.m. CST.
