Jan. 19, 2008
Final Stats
NORMAL, Ill. -
For the 10th-straight game, junior Kristi Cirone scored in double-figures, as the Illinois State women's basketball team won its fifth-straight league game by defeating Indiana State, 77-70, in a Missouri Valley Conference tilt Saturday afternoon on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena. Cirone finished with a game-high 19 points on 6-for-11 shooting from the floor, as the Redbirds won their 11th-straight game, which tied for the third-longest winning streak in program history with the 1983-84 team.
Cirone led three Redbirds (15-1 overall, 5-0 MVC) in double-figures, as Nicolle Lewis and Lashawn Johnson both scored 10 points. Lewis nearly recorded her second-career double-double, as she grabbed nine rebounds, and Johnson's 10 points were a season-high. Freshman Shala Jackson also had a solid game off the bench, as she nearly recorded her first-career double-double with a career-high 11 boards and nine points. Jackson also dished out a career-high four assists.
Indiana State (8-7 overall, 2-3 MVC) was led by Kelsey Luna, who had a team-high 16 points on 5-for-13 shooting. However, Luna struggled to find her stroke in the second half, and she hit only 1-of-6 shots from the floor in the period. It marked the seventh game that Indiana State has lost when giving up 74 or more points, as the Sycamores came into the game with a record of 1-6 when facing the situation.
Head coach Robin Pingeton was pleased with the Redbirds' effort in the second half, believing that the team received solid contributions from reserves Jackson and Kenyatta Shelton.
"Even when we took Kristin out for a few minutes, we were able to maintain the lead and even go up by two or three points," said Pingeton. "I thought that Kenyatta Shelton contributed and did some great things for us, and Shala Jackson also contributed. It was just a tough win, and that's what The Valley is all about. This game is what you get, and it's never going to be easy. But I thought our team competed and played with a lot toughness in the second half."
Illinois State came out shooting out of the gates, and Cirone was the catalyst to the Redbirds' early 11-8 lead. Cirone scored 7-of-11 points to give Illinois State the advantage before the first media timeout. After a three-pointer from Jackson gave the Redbirds a 21-18 lead with 11:10 left in the half, the Sycamores went on a 16-3 scoring run, which included five points by Luna, to take a 34-24 lead with 3:31 remaining in the half. Illinois State's 10-point deficit was its largest since the Redbirds trailed by 10 points at DePaul Nov. 25.
However, the Redbirds went on an 8-2 spurt, thanks to five free throws from Cirone, to close the gap to 36-32 with 1:05 left in the first. Indiana State's Kara Schilli added two free throws for the 38-32 halftime margin. Illinois State struggled to find tits shot from beyond the arc, as the Redbirds connected on only 4-of-17 threes.
After making adjustments during the break, Illinois State was able to climb back into the game and took a 44-42 lead at the 15:57 mark, courtesy of a 12-2 spurt. Lewis nailed back-to-back jumpers to pace the `Birds during the run. The Redbirds built their lead to 10 points after they put together a 13-2 scoring run and led 67-57, when Jackson hit her second three of the game at the 6:52 mark in the second half. But Indiana State came back, as the Sycamores went on a 9-2 spurt and trailed by only three, 69-66, with 4:35 left.
That was the closest Indiana State would get, as the Redbirds nailed 3-of-5 free throws in the final minute to preserve the victory.
Illinois State will hit the road for a two-game swing, beginning Friday, Jan. 25 at Valley foe Missouri State. Tip-off is slated for 4:05 p.m.
