Dec. 21, 2008
Box Score
IRVINE, Calif. -
Defense was the name of the game once again for the Illinois State Redbirds (7-3) in their 82-51 win over Western Michigan (3-7) in the opening round of the Orange County Clash. The Redbirds forced 19 turnovers and held the Broncos to nine field goals in each half for their third 30-point win this season.
The Redbirds advance to the championship of the Orange County Clash and will play the winner of the UNC-Greensboro/UC-Irvine game Monday at 4:30 p.m. CST.
Kristi Cirone led all scorers with 24 points for the second-consecutive game and had five assists. She continued to shoot at a high percentage, making none of her 13 shots, including three three-pointers. Maggie Krick (17), Nicolle Lewis (11) and Shala Jackson joined Cirone in double-figures. Lewis was one rebounds shy of her second double-double of the season with a team-best nine. Kenyatta Shelton had seven rebounds and Ashleen Bracey and Amanda Clifton pulled down six.
"This was another great road win for us," said head coach Robin Pingeton. "We have been on the road so much this season and it was great to see the players come out with intensity today after a long couple of days of travel to make it out here. We had great efforts on defense and rebounding today."
The Redbirds led the entire first half, but Western Michigan kept it close early on, never falling behind by more than five points. Both teams suffered through short scoring droughts and couldn't find an offensive rhythm through the first 12 minutes. The Redbirds put together an 11-2 run, highlighted by three-point plays by Cirone and Lewis, to take a double-digit lead, 31-21, with three minutes left. Clifton grabbed an offensive rebound off a missed three-pointer and put in a layup just before the halftime buzzer sounded to put the Redbirds ahead, 35-24.
Cirone, Lewis and Krick provided nearly all the Redbird offense in the first half, combining for 31 points on 12-of-24 shooting from the field. Cirone and Krick also made all three Redbird three-pointers.
ISU came out running in the second half, opening the period with a 12-2 run to stretch its lead over 20 points for the first time, 47-26. Three of the Redbird baskets came on the fastbreak, including a three-point play by Krick off a no-look pass from Cirone. Jackson had six points during the run.
Western Michigan suffered through more than six minutes without a field goal, allowing the Redbirds to go on a 13-3 run and nearly double the Broncos up, 62-33. Western Michigan finally snapped its scoring drought and scored 10 points in two minutes, but the Redbirds continued to run past them and maintained at least a 20-point advantage. Another three-point play by Krick put ISU up by 30, 75-45.
