Feb. 10, 2007
Box Score
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Illinois State's women's basketball team used a stellar defensive effort and a dominating rebounding performance to upend host Missouri State, 65-48, in a Missouri Valley Conference contest at Hammons Student Center Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Redbirds clinch the season sweep over the Bears for the first time since the 2002-03 campaign.
Illinois State snapped its season-high two-game Valley losing skid, and improved to 17-6 (10-2 MVC). Missouri State drops to 6-14 and 2-10. ISU reached the 17-win plateau for the first time since the 1996-97 campaign.
The Redbirds put three players in double figures, led by Kristi Cirone's 19 points. Junior Ashley Sandstead, making her first start of the season, chipped in 13 points on a 5-of-8 shooting effort, and center Nicolle Lewis recorded 13 points to go along with six rebounds. MSU was paced by Tahnee Balerio, who finished with 13 points on 4-for-19 shooting.
ISU collected a season-high 53 rebounds in the game, including 19 on the offensive end. Lashawn Johnson spearheaded the effort with 11 caroms, her sixth double-digit rebounding effort of the season, and the fifth in the last seven games.
Illinois State head coach Robin Pingeton was pleased with her team's defensive intensity, and recognized the significance of another MVC road win.
"Our kids did a really nice job on the defensive end today," said Pingeton. "We contested shots and really disrupted things. It wasn't easy, but this win is big for our team and our program. It's been awhile since Illinois State has reached 17 wins, and Missouri State is a place that we haven't had a lot of success at in the past. It says a lot about our kids in that some of our shots weren't falling, but that we could weather the storm, get after it on the defensive end and win a big game on the road in a great atmosphere to play in."
Both teams were held scoreless for nearly the first three minutes of the game, before Sandstead hit a 12-foot driving jumper from the corner to get the Redbirds on the board (2-0). She followed it up with a three-pointer from the top of the key the next time down the floor, and at the first media timeout (15:53), ISU owned a 5-4 advantage.
Illinois State claimed its largest lead of four (14-10) with 11:55 remaining in the first half after a steal and ensuing fast break layup by Cirone, capping off a 6-0 Redbird run. The Bears remained within four points of the `Birds for the ensuing seven minutes before Cirone hit a three-pointer following an offensive rebound to push the ISU advantage to six, 27-21. The field goal jump started a 10-2 Redbird run to end the half, as ISU took a 32-23 lead into the locker room at the intermission.
Lewis led the ISU offensive output, scoring 11 points while tearing down four offensive rebounds. Cirone chipped in with 10 points. The Bears were led Breton Wyett's eight points on 4-of-7 shooting. ISU out-rebounded Missouri State 26-17 in the frame, but committed 10 turnovers. MSU shot just 31 percent in the stanza.
ISU claimed its largest lead of the game (35-23) just 1:05 into the second half after a Cirone three-pointer, and held the Bears scoreless for the next four minutes of the second half, holding on to the 12-point cushion at the stanza's first media timeout (15:57). Illinois State owned a double-digit advantage for the next seven minutes before Balerio hit back-to-back free throws with 8:40 left, pulling the Bears within eight, 43-35. But Cirone ended the threat and silenced the crowd of 5,450 with an ensuing transition three-pointer, and Tiffany Hudson followed with another trey on ISU's next possession, pushing the Redbird lead to 49-35.
Illinois State built a 20-point lead (57-37) with 5:45 remaining after Sandstead hit a transition three-pointer, her second consecutive field goal. Cirone also had a trey in the stretch. The `Birds built as large as a 21-point lead before clearing their bench with 1:35 remaining.
Sandstead was complimentary of her teammates' effort on defense.
"As Coach `P' always emphasizes, defense and rebounding are two things we can control," said Sandstead. "If the shots aren't falling, we can control our effort both on the defensive end and on the glass. I thought we did a good job at those things today."
The Redbird basketball team will travel to Wichita, Kan., Sunday morning in preparation for Monday's game against Wichita State. Tip-off from Charles Koch Arena is set for 7:05 p.m.
