March 1, 2007
Final Stats
DES MOINES, Iowa - Illinois State's sophomore tandem of Nicolle Lewis and Kristi Cirone each scored 21 points to lead a foursome of Redbirds in double figures, as they defeated host Drake, 67-61, at the Knapp Center Thursday night. The win marked just ISU's second all-time triumph at Drake's home facility, and gave the Redbirds their first 12-win Missouri Valley Conference campaign since the 1996-97 season.
With the win, Illinois State improves to 19-9 with a 12-5 Valley record. Drake drops to 10-17 and 5-12. Both teams will wrap up the MVC regular season Saturday night, with ISU traveling to Creighton, and Drake hosting Indiana State.
Lewis and Cirone each tallied 21-point efforts, while senior Megan McCracken chipped in 11, and Kenyatta Shelton contributed 10 points off the bench. Drake was led by Lindsay Whorton's 23 points. Whorton also eclipsed her 1,000th career point in the game.
Illinois State built as large as a 13-point lead in the first half, before seeing the Bulldogs finish the stanza on a 10-4 run to pull within seven at halftime. Drake stormed back to tie the game with just over five minutes remaining in the second stanza, but ISU hit five free throws in the final 2:30, and held off a late Bulldog rally to snap its 14-game losing streak at the Knapp Center.
"Tonight was a big win for our program," said ISU head coach Robin Pingeton. "Our kids kept fighting against a good team that is great at home. I liked our defensive pressure, the way we controlled the boards, and our offensive poise down the stretch. We'll enjoy it tonight, but we have to get ready for a very good Creighton team Saturday night."
Illinois State came out firing, scoring on its first three trips down the floor to open up an early 8-0 lead. Lewis started the flurry with a 14-foot jump shot, and McCracken and Cirone followed with three-point field goals. At the first media timeout, ISU led by seven, 13-6. The Redbirds were successful on five of their first eight shots.
Coming off the bench, Shelton gave the Redbirds a lift in the ensuing eight minute stretch, converting three quick field goals to help push ISU's lead to nine, 23-14, with 7:40 remaining in the opening stanza. At the half's third media timeout, the `Birds had 10 team field goals. ISU opened its first double-digit advantage (26-14) with 6:15 remaining in the frame after Lewis' third field goal.
Illinois State extended its lead to 13 points (29-16) at the six minute mark, but Drake finished the half on a 6-2 run over the final 3:30, and after two free throws by Brandy Dahir with 3.5 seconds remaining in the half, pulled within seven, 33-26, heading into the locker room at intermission.
Drake edged ISU, 13-12, in the opening four minutes of the second half, and pulled within six (45-39) at the initial media timeout. They recorded a 4-0 surge out of the break, and pulled within 45-43 with 13:15 remaining. Dahir and Kelsey Keizer each had field goals in the stretch. But Cirone answered with an ensuing transition three-pointer, pushing ISU's lead back to five, 48-43, with 11:39 left in the second half.
Drake's Monique Jones tied the game at 54-54 with 5:10 left after a 10-foot turnaround jumper. But Lewis quickly gave ISU the lead with two free throws the next time down the floor, giving the `Birds the lead for good. Illinois State hit five free throws in the final 2:30 to clinch the victory, despite forcing Whorton to miss a three-pointer with 11 seconds remaining that would have tied the game.
ISU out-rebounded Drake, 32-28, representing the first time the Redbirds have held the advantage on the boards in the past five games.
The Redbird basketball team will wrap up its regular season slate Saturday against Creighton. Tip-off from the Omaha Civic Auditorium is set for 3:05 p.m.
