Nov. 22, 2008
Box Score
MUNCIE, Ind. -
A renewed intensity and a career-high from Kristi Cirone led Illinois State (1-2) past Robert Morris (0-3), 94-82, in the final game of the WNIT for both teams Saturday at Worthen Arena. The Redbirds had four players score in double-figures and used a big run in the first half to win their first game of the season.
Cirone netted 35 points, the most scored by a Redbird in a game since Holly Hallstrom scored 30 against Indiana State in 2006. Cirone scored 19 points in the first half on 7-of-8 shooting. She had a career-best 12 field goals, including four from three-point range, and added a season-high eight assists.
Nicolle Lewis had 15 points, six rebounds, four blocks and four assists, which tied her career-high. Shala Jackson recorded her first-career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Maggie Krick added 11 points, six rebounds and tied her career-high with eight assists.
"We talked about coming out tonight and playing with intensity for a full 40 minutes," said head coach Robin Pingeton. "We changed up our defense with the intent of creating some transition opportunities for our offense and it worked well. We played hard from the start and I couldn't be more proud of our effort."
Illinois State shot 58 percent from the field and had 44 points in the paint for its highest offensive output since scoring 95 against Missouri State last season. The Redbird used a 2-3 zone the entire game to force 17 Robert Morris turnovers and scored 24 points off those turnovers. Monet Johnson made eight three-pointers and scored a game-high 37 points for the Colonials.
Robert Morris opened the game with seven-straight points to take a three-point lead five minutes into the action. ISU broke away with a 29-4 run over the next seven minutes. Cirone scored 13 points during the run, including 10 points in a two-minute span, and completed two three-point plays. At the third media timeout, ISU led by 22, 33-11.
Another fastbreak layup for Cirone gave ISU its biggest lead of the half, 42-18. The Colonials made back-to-back three-pointers and closed the half down, 47-30. The Redbirds shot 62 percent (18-29) from the field in the first half, aided by the fact that 11 of their field goals in the first half were layups.
Both teams came out running to start the second half, combining for 28 points in the first four minutes. Ashleen Bracey and Cirone scored the first 11 Redbird points. Johnson had a pair of three-pointers to pace the Colonials. Robert Morris pulled within 14 points, but a transition layup by Lewis and a pair of three-pointers by Krick stretched the ISU lead to 70-52.
Cirone nailed a three-pointer from the top of the key to put the Redbirds back up by 20, 77-57, and give her a new career-high.
Illinois State hosts Ball State Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. in the first game in Redbird Arena this season.
