Illinois State-Creighton Game Notes in PDF Format
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March 3, 2007
OMAHA, Neb. - The Illinois State women's basketball team will look to clinch the No. 2 seed in next week's State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament with a win in its regular season league finale at Creighton Saturday afternoon. Tip-off from the Omaha Civic Auditorium is set for 3:05 p.m.
The Redbirds (19-9, 12-5 MVC) are coming off Thursday's 67-61 win at league foe Drake. Illinois State's sophomore tandem of Nicolle Lewis and Kristi Cirone each scored 21 points to lead a foursome in double figures, as the Redbirds picked up just their second-ever win at the Knapp Center, and clinched ISU's first 12-win Valley season since the 1996-97 campaign.
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 Drake's home arena.
In the last meeting between Illinois State and Creighton (Dec. 29, 2006), Cirone poured in a game-high 22 points and dished out five assists to lead the Redbirds to a wire-to-wire, 70-59, win in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both teams at Redbird Arena. The only other Redbird in double figures was Megan McCracken, who finished with 12 points. Kenyatta Shelton and Maggie Krick each chipped in eight points. The Bluejays put four players in double figures, led by Chevelle Herring's 13 points.
Creighton (11-17, 8-9 MVC) started out the Valley slate 0-3, but rolled off six wins in its ensuing seven games, and will be looking to clinch its first .500 or better league result since the 2004-05 campaign. The Jays dropped a 69-64 decision at upstart Indiana State Friday night. Ally Thrall (10.9 ppg) and Sara Cain (10.0 ppg) have provided the majority of Creighton's scoring output, while Sam Schuett (5.6 rpg) has been the steady rebounding catalyst.
Creighton leads the all-time series against Illinois State, 21-11, but dating back to last season, the Redbirds have defeated the Bluejays three consecutive times for the first time in program history.
