Feb. 25, 2007
Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. - Northern Iowa senior Tara King poured in a game-high 31 points, including the go-ahead jumper with 5.5 seconds remaining, to lift the visiting Panthers to a 74-73, overtime win over Illinois State on Senior Day at Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena Sunday. The game marked the Redbirds' first overtime contest this season. With the win, Northern Iowa salvaged a season split with Illinois State, who defeated the Panthers, 60-58, at the McCleod Center on Jan. 25.
Illinois State moves to 18-9 on the season with an 11-5 Missouri Valley Conference slate. Northern Iowa improves to 16-12 and 10-7.
Nicolle Lewis turned in another dominating performance in the post, scoring a career-high 26 points to go along with a game-high nine rebounds. Kristi Cirone finished with 19 points and nine assists, and did not commit a single turnover. King's 31 points led the UNI scoring output, while Jessie Biggs contributed 17 points, and Lindsey Swanson chipped in 10 points on a perfect 3-for-3 shooting effort off the Panther bench.
Illinois State overcame a combined five ties and lead changes in the initial 13 minutes of the first half, and strung together a 13-4 run to end the stanza, taking a 34-25 lead at halftime. Despite Northern Iowa's quick start to the second half, the Redbirds owned a seven-point lead with 5:04 remaining in the second stanza. But the Panthers ended regulation on an 11-4 spurt, forcing ISU's first overtime contest of the season. In the extra period, Cirone scored eight points, but her potential game-winning driving jump shot as time expired circled the rim and missed, giving UNI the one-point win.
Northern Iowa claimed the early advantage, jumping out to an 8-2 lead just three minutes into the game. Tara King had two three-pointers to lead the early Panther charge. But the Redbirds took their first lead just over five minutes later after completing a 12-5 run. Tiffany Hudson and Maggie Krick each converted three-pointers in the spurt. With the game tied at 17-17, the Redbirds recorded a 12-6 run that gave Illinois State a commanding 29-23 lead. Lewis had two field goals in the surge, and Ashley Sandstead and Tamara Butler contributed quick buckets. The Panthers scored just two points for the remainder of the half, as ISU took a 34-25 lead, its largest of the first frame, into the locker room.
King led all scorers with 12 first-half points, while Lewis paced the Redbird attack with nine points on 4-for-7 shooting. UNI held a 24-21 rebounding advantage. ISU outscored the Panthers in the paint, 16-4, and owned an 11-0 advantage off fast break points.
UNI began the second half on a 14-5 run, and tied the game (39-39) after a layup by King. ISU quickly regained the lead one possession later, and built its advantage to seven points, 58-51, with just over five minutes remaining after Lewis' eight field goal. But UNI answered with a 7-0 spurt, and tied the game at 58-58 after a field goal by Swanson. The Panthers took their first lead since the 9:40 mark of the first half following a layup by Sarah Larsen with just 50 seconds remaining. Two ensuing free throws by Lewis tied the game at 62-62, and ended the scoring output in regulation. King missed a potential game-winning jumper with two seconds remaining to seal the extra period.
Cirone shined in overtime, converting four of Illinois State's five field goals. But with the Redbirds clinging to a 73-72 lead with 29 seconds remaining, the front end of her one-and-one free throw sequence was short, and King's ensuing jump shot gave UNI the 74-73 advantage with seven seconds remaining.
After an ISU timeout, Cirone in-bounded the ball underneath the basket, took a mid-court pass from Butler, drove the lane, and missed a six-footer as time expired.
Illinois State was out-rebounded for the fourth consecutive game, 44-32. The Redbirds stepped it up on the defensive end, recording seven blocks, including five by Lewis.
The Redbird basketball team will wrap up their regular season slate on the road next week, when they travel to Drake and Creighton on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.
