March 14, 2008
Box Score
ST. CHARLES, Mo. -
Top-seeded Illinois State (24-6) used a big run in the second half to beat No. 9 Southern Illinois (10-20), 77-65, in the quarterfinals of the 2008 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at the Family Arena. After struggling offensively in the first half, Illinois State dominated the final 12 minutes of the game, outscoring Southern Illinois, 38-16. Junior guard Kristi Cirone tied her season-high with a game-high 27 points.
With the win, ISU advances to the semifinals for the fourth time in the last five years. The Redbirds will face the winner of No. 4 Creighton and No. 5 Missouri State on Friday at 1:05 p.m.
Cirone's 27 points, which she also scored this season at Southern Illinois, were the fourth-most by a Redbird in an MVC Tournament game. She was 8-of-16 from the field, 8-for-11 from the free throw line and also had five rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal. Freshman guard Shala Jackson had 15 points and a team-high eight rebounds in her first conference tournament game. Sophomore guard Maggie Krick added 14 points and four assists.
It was Illinois State's effort in the second half that produced the victory. ISU outscored SIU 47-32 in the frame and shot 61.5 percent from the field (16-for-26). Cirone, Jackson and Krick combined for 39 of ISU's 47 points in the second half.
With Southern Illinois ahead by 10 points in the second half, Illinois State went on a 26-6 run over the span of eight minutes, during which the Salukis had just one field goal. Southern Illinois made just four field goals in the final 12 minutes of the game.
"I am really proud of the way the players handled adversity today," said head coach Robin Pingeton. We really didn't find our rhythm offensively in the first half and that hurt us. Our shots started to fall in the second half and that allowed us to use of full court press more and that made the difference in our comeback. With that defensive pressure, we could get out and run more."
Illinois State struggled from the field in the early going, shooting just 3-for-10 in the first five minutes. Southern Illinois wasn't hindered at all, making five of its first six shots and three free throws to take an 14-6 lead. Although the Redbirds continued to shoot poorly from the field, seven-straight free throws and tough defense allowed them to tie the game, 19-19, just under the 10-minute mark.
Southern Illinois guard Erin Pauk scored four-straight points to help the Salukis pull back ahead, 25-20, as Illinois State suffered through another scoring drought of more than four minutes. Cirone made ISU's first three-pointer of the day to cut the deficit back down to two points, but Sales answered with a jumper on SIU's next possession. A jumper by freshman Jackson cut the deficit back down to one point, 28-27, with just under three minutes left, but ISU could not take the lead. Southern Illinois had the lead at halftime, just as it did in the three regular season games.
Cirone pulled the Redbirds within two with a three-pointer early in the second half, but SIU guard Ellen Young scored six points in less than a minute, including two transition layups and assisted on another fastbreak score to increase the SIU lead to double-digits, 47-37, with 14:05 remaining.
After the two teams traded baskets, Cirone led the Redbirds on a 12-2 run to tie the game, 51-51, with nine minute left. Cirone had three-straight jumpers and through a long outlet pass to Jackson, who finished the fastbreak layup as she was fouled and made the free throw. ISU forced SIU into a shot clock violation and Krick knotted the game with a three-pointer from the top of the key.
The two teams traded free throws and the Cirone-Jackson fastbreak connection struck again to give ISU its first lead since the opening bucket, 55-53. The lead continued to grow was Krick made a deep three-pointer and senior guard Tiffany Hudson cut through the lane for a layup. Cirone then made another three-pointer from the left corner and Jackson scooped in a driving layup to put the `Birds ahead by double-digits, 65-54.
Sales completed a three-point play that snapped a five-minute scoreless streak for SIU and cut the deficit down to seven points, 67-60. The Redbirds maintained at least a seven-point cushion the rest of the way. Cirone had a chance to set a new career-high when she went to the free throw line with 56 seconds left, but missed both shots.
