March 10, 2007
Final Stats
DES MOINES, Iowa - The second-seeded Illinois State women's basketball team's 2007 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament journey ended with a 59-56 semifinal loss to No. 6 Creighton at the Knapp Center Saturday afternoon. The Redbirds either led or were tied for 37 minutes, but committed two turnovers in the final two minutes, and missed three potential game-tying three-pointers in the final 27 seconds to see its season end. The Redbirds will await their postseason fate in the WNIT, which releases its selections Monday night following the NCAA Women's Basketball Selection Show.
Illinois State exits the MVC tournament with a 21-10 overall record, its highest single-season victory total since the 1989-90 season. Creighton upped its season record to 13-18, and will face eighth-seeded Drake in Sunday's Valley championship game at 2 p.m with an automatic NCAA bid on the line.
2006-07 Jackie Stiles Player of the Year and ISU sophomore point guard Kristi Cirone led the Redbird scoring output with 12 points. Kenyatta Shelton chipped in 10 points off the bench to complete Illinois State's double-digit scorers. Creighton was led by Megan Neuvirth and Sara Cain's 13 points a piece.
The Redbirds led by as many as nine points in the first half, but saw Creighton finish the frame on a 17-10 run to pull within two (31-29) at halftime. In the second stanza, ISU stretched its advantage to six points twice, but lost the lead with for good with 1:31 remaining.
The Redbirds were out-rebounded, 36-30, and committed 15 turnovers, including eight in the second half.
"This was a tough way to end the season, but that is what March Madness is all about," said head coach Robin Pingeton. "You have to give credit to Creighton. Head coach Jim (Flanery) has done a great job with such a young team, and I think they are the most improved team in our league. But I was disappointed in the way we rebounded because when we control the boards, it creates so much offense for us. I was also disappointed with how loose we got with ball down the stretch with several unforced turnovers.
"We had a tremendous year and accomplished a lot of things, especially winning 20 games with such a young team. Although it is tough to swallow, it was a great season and the future is bright for us."
Illinois State took the early advantage for the second consecutive game, jumping to a 7-2 lead at the first media timeout of the first half (15:47). Maggie Krick got the `Birds on the board first with a three-pointer, and Lashawn Johnson and Shelton each contributed post field goals in the stretch. ISU stretched its advantage to nine, 21-12, after a three-pointer by Cirone, before seeing the Bluejays record a 5-0 spurt to cut the lead to 21-17 with 8:02 remaining in the opening stanza.
Pingeton turned to her bench in the ensuing four minute stretch, with Tamara Butler, Sara Stevenson and Lori Trumblee all seeing early action. Butler was active on the offensive end, dropping a three-pointer and tallying a back door post field goal to help push the Redbird advantage to six, 28-22, heading into the half's final media timeout (3:59). Creighton finished the half on a 7-3 run to pull within two (31-29) at halftime. Chevelle Herring's 25-foot three-pointer as time expired capped off the spurt, as the Bluejays pulled within one possession for the first time since the 11 minute mark.
Illinois State forced Creighton into its first timeout just 58 seconds into the second half after going on a quick 4-0 spurt to stretch its advantage to six, 35-29. Cirone tallied a fast-break lay-up, and Nicolle Lewis followed with her first field goal of the game in the post. The Bluejays re-grouped out of the break, tallying an 8-5 run over the ensuing five minutes to pull within three (40-37) with 14:05 remaining. Sara Cain scored five points in the spurt.
The Bluejays tied the game at 42-42 two and a half minutes later after a three-pointer by Michelle Kaus. ISU responded, however, recording an 8-2 spree to take a 50-44 lead with 9:39 remaining. Neither team scored for the ensuing three minutes, before Cain jumpstarted a 13-6 game ending run with a jumper with 6:26 left. Creighton took its biggest lead of three, 59-56, with 54 seconds remaining.
But the Redbirds had three opportunities to tie the game. Tiffany Hudson, Cirone and Megan McCracken all missed three point attempts in the final 27 seconds. McCracken's three from the top of the key at the buzzer hit the front of the rim and fell short.
Creighton scored 19 points off ISU turnovers, and recorded 15 second chance points. There were just a combined five ties and lead changes in the game. The Redbirds' rebounding disparity broke a streak of three games in which ISU out-rebounded its opponent.
