March 9, 2007
Final Stats
DES MOINES, Iowa - Senior guard Megan McCracken poured in six three-point field goals en route to a team-high 20 points to lift Illinois State's women's basketball team to a 75-60 win over seventh-seeded Bradley in the quarterfinal round of the 2007 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at the Knapp Center Friday night. With the win, the Redbirds advance to Saturday's second semifinal, where they will face the winner of tonight's No. 3 Indiana State vs. No. 6 Creighton game. Illinois State also defeated its in-state rival three times in the same season for just the second time in program history.
With the victory, ISU upped its season record to 21-9, and clinched its 10th overall appearance in either the Gateway/Missouri Valley Conference semifinals. Bradley is eliminated from the MVC tournament, and wraps up its season with a 12-19 overall slate.
McCracken's 20 points led a threesome of Redbirds in double figures: Kristi Cirone chipped in 12 points to along with five assists, while Tiffany Hudson scored 10 points off the bench. Kenyatta Shelton was ISU's rebounding catalyst, grabbing 10 boards to go along with nine points. Bradley was led by Ashley Chelleen's 23 points.
Illinois State led for the first 18 minutes of the first half, extending its advantage to as many as nine points. But Bradley finished the stanza on a 13-6 run to claim a one-point (33-32) halftime lead. In the second half, Illinois State opened up an early six-point advantage, extended it to double-digits mid-way through the frame, and coasted to the 15-point triumph.
"I was really proud of our kids," said head coach Robin Pingeton. "I knew it would be a tough match up because they (Bradley) had four seniors in the lineup, and had already played one game in the tournament. We challenged our kids at halftime and they really came out with a sense of urgency. It was a great team win."
Illinois State converted its first three field goals of the first half on its way to the early 7-2 lead. McCracken hit a 14-footer, and Cirone had a transition three-pointer in the stretch. But Chelleen single handedly kept Bradley within striking distance, scoring six quick points to pull within one, 10-9, at the first media timeout (15:54). A quick three-pointer by McCracken and an offensive rebound putback by Shelton gave the Redbirds a 17-9 lead, but the Braves fought back with an ensuing 5-0 spurt to pull back within one possession, 17-14, with just under 12 minutes left in the first frame.
Illinois State took control of the game in the next three minutes, building as large as a nine-point lead (26-17). But Bradley answered with a 9-0 spree to tie the game at 26-26 at the half's final media timeout (2:41). The Braves' Kelly Krumwiede had four points in the run. Bradley took its first lead one possession later, after Rachel Merriman hit two free throws. ISU responded with a 5-0 spurt to claim a 32-28 advantage, but the Braves finished the half on a 5-0 run, capped off by Chelleen's three-pointer with just 12 seconds remaining in the half to give Bradley a 33-32 edge heading into the locker room at halftime.
"We just weren't finishing shots in the first half," Pingeton said. "The challenge was to continue to get out and go north and south. In the second half, our defense started our offense and we did a good job in transition."
Despite two turnovers in the first two minutes of the second half, the Redbirds opened the frame on a 6-2 spurt, and owned a 39-35 advantage at the first media timeout (15:30). McCracken's third field goal from beyond the arc capped off the run. ISU continued to control the pace out of the break, extending its lead to eight, 43-35, following back-to-back fast-break lay-ups by Cirone. After Chelleen's 14-footer pulled Bradley back within six (43-37), McCracken answered with her fourth trey of the contest to give the `Birds a 46-37 (matching their largest of the game), forcing the Braves into their first timeout of the stanza.
The Redbirds strung together a 17-6 run over the ensuing five and a half minutes to open up a commanding 60-43 lead. Hudson came off the bench to provide seven quick points in the spree, and McCracken converted her fifth three-pointer. Shelton also contributed two fast break field goals. Bradley never got any closer than 15 points for the remainder of the game, as Pingeton cleared her bench with less than two minutes remaining.
ISU scored 11 second chance points, and blanked Bradley on the fast-break, 15-0. The Redbirds also out-rebounded their opponent for the third consecutive game.
Illinois State will play either Indiana State or Creighton Saturday at 3:35 p.m.
