Jan. 13, 2008
Box Score
PEORIA, Ill. -
The Illinois State Redbirds (14-1, 4-0 MVC) put on an offensive show to beat Bradley (6-8, 0-3 MVC), 94-61, on Sunday, Jan, 13. The `Birds recorded season-highs with 34 field goals and a 59.4 shooting percentage to post their first 90-point effort since they beat Evansville, 91-64, on Jan. 16, 2004. ISU extended its winning streak to 10 games and improved to 9-0 on the road this season. The Redbirds' current winning streak is the fifth double-digit streak in program history and is tied for the fourth-longest with the 1984-85 squad.
The Redbirds had 13 players score in the game, led by 15 points apiece for junior guard Kristi Cirone and sophomore guard Maggie Krick. Cirone and Krick combined for a 12-for-18 performance from the field and made six of ISU's season-high 10 three-point field goals. Sophomore center Nicolle Lewis and freshman guard Shala Jackson each scored 12 points and sophomore forward Ashleen Bracey added 10 points. Junior guard Ashley Sandstead scored a season-high eight points in just her second game back since a stress fracture kept her out of eight-consecutive games. The Redbirds had equal contribution from its entire lineup as the starters combined for 54 points and the bench players chipped in the other 40.
ISU outrebounded Bradley 34-27, led by Lewis's seven boards. The Redbirds had a season-high 27 assists against a season-low 10 turnovers. Senior guard Tiffany Hudson led the way with a season-high seven, her sixth-straight game with five assists, and was one of 11 Redbirds with an assist. Freshman guard Amanda Clifton had a career-high four assists.
"It is so exciting to be able to get every player some significant time," said head coach Robin Pingeton. "These players work so hard in practice and they are the reason why we are where we are. Any time you can player your entire roster is a plus and today showed how strong our depth is. I think our bench players had as much to do with our success in the first half as our starters did."
The Redbirds had every starter score in the first seven minutes to build an 18-11 lead, paced by six points and four rebounds by Lewis. Bradley kept the game close as the two teams traded points on seven-consecutive possessions. Leading by five, 24-19, ISU went on a 15-0 run over a four-minute span to extend its advantage to 20 points, 39-19. Cirone, Jackson and Krick each connected on three-pointers as the Redbirds were 5-for-6 from the field during the run.
Bradley guard Devyn Flanagan snapped a five-minute scoring drought with a jumper at the 4:33 mark, but the Redbirds closed out the period with an 11-4 run to double up the Braves at halftime, 50-25.
ISU shot 61.8 percent (21-for-34) from the field in the first half, the team's best shooting percentage in a half this season. Seven different players found their way into the scoring column, led by 15 points by Krick and 10 by Lewis, and the `Birds were 6-for-12 from three-point range. The Redbirds had 16 assists against just two turnovers, picking up 13 of those assists before their first miscue. ISU was active on the offensive glass, collecting four offensive rebounds and putting back 10 second chance points.
Bradley managed to cut the deficit down to 20 points in the second half, but the `Birds answered quickly with a 13-2 run to stretch their lead to 30 points for the first time, 69-38, with 10:45 remaining in the game. A three-pointer by Sandstead at 4:39 put the Redbirds on top by 36, their biggest lead of the game and the season, 85-49.
The `Birds were just as hot from the field in the second half, shooting 56.7 percent, their best field goal percentage after halftime of the season. Their 44 points in the second period was the fourth-highest total in a half of the year.
Illinois State hosts Indiana State (8-6, 2-2 MVC) on Saturday, Jan. 19, at 4:05 p.m.
