Dec. 29, 2008
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NORMAL, Ill. - Kristi Cirone scored 17 of her team-leading 23 points in the second half and helped Illinois State escape with a 75-73 win over Eastern Illinois on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena Monday night. Eastern Illinois' Ashley Thomas connected on a jumper and appeared to tie the game as time expired, but after reviewing the play, the officials ruled the shot was too late, which secured the victory for Illinois State.
Cirone surpassed former Redbird Cindy Kaufman for second place on the Illinois State all-time scoring list and tallied more than 20 points for the fourth-consecutive game. Shala Jackson (15), Ashleen Bracey (12) and Nicolle Lewis (10) joined Cirone in double-figures. Cirone led the Redbirds with nine assists and collected five rebounds in the game.
Illinois State survived an onslaught from Bloomington, Ill., native and Eastern Illinois forward Rachel Galligan. The 6-foot-2 senior led all scorers with 27 points and tied for the game-high with eight rebounds. Ellen Canale (16) and Megan Edwards (15) also reached double-figures for the Panthers.
The Redbirds scored the game's first six points and maintained the lead throughout the first half. Illinois State's Brea Banks hit a three-pointer as time expired at the break to push the Redbird lead to 10 at 36-26.
Eastern Illinois came out of the half as a different team. The Panthers shot 51.7 percent in the second half after connecting on just 29.2 percent in the opening period. Galligan put the Panthers on top for the first time with a jump shot at 8:40. The shot marked the first time Illinois State trailed an opponent in four games, a span of 102:35.
The lead changed hands five times over the final eight minutes before a pair of free throws by Jackson gave the Redbirds a 75-73 advantage with just under a minute to play. Galligan missed on the Panthers' next trip down the court, and the Redbirds took the clock down to 13 seconds before turning the ball over.
Eastern Illinois had a final opportunity to tie the game with 6.8 seconds left in the game. Thomas went up for the jumper from the top of the key and appeared to have the basked go in, but upon official review, the shot was ruled to have left Thomas' hands after time expired.
The win closes the non-conference portion of Illinois State's schedule. The Redbirds open Missouri Valley Conference play with a 2:05 p.m. New Year's Day game against Creighton at Redbird Arena.
