March 8, 2008
Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. -
For the first time in nearly 20 years, Illinois State is the regular season champion of the Missouri Valley Conference in women's basketball. The Redbirds (23-6, 13-5 MVC) clinched a share of the MVC regular season championship by beating Evansville (19-10, 13-5 MVC), 87-72, in the regular-season finale for both teams. It is ISU's third regular season conference title and its first since 1988-89. The win also snapped ISU's three-game losing streak and tied the record for most regular season wins in school history with the 1984-85 squad.
Illinois State, Evansville and Drake have all tied for the Valley regular season championship with 13-5 conference records through Saturday afternoon's action. Evansville had already clinched a share entering the day and Drake defeated Wichita State on the road, 53-51, to grab its piece. Creighton still has a chance to claim a share of the title with a win over Missouri State tonight. If Creighton wins, the Bluejays will receive the top-seed in the upcoming State Farm MVC Women's Basketball Tournament and Illinois State will be No. 2. If Creighton loses, ISU will clinch the No. 1 seed in the tournament.
Sophomore guard Maggie Krick led all scorers with 22 points, her fourth 20-point effort of the season, and tied her career-high with 10 field goals. Krick added a team-best seven assists, one-shy of her career-best, and five rebounds. Sophomore center Nicolle Lewis recorded her second-consecutive double-double with 11 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. Junior guard Kristi Cirone contributed 16 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals.
Senior guard Tiffany Hudson made her first start in seven games and made the best of her final regular season game in Redbird Arena. Hudson scored 17 points, aided by three three-pointers, and tied her career-high with seven rebounds. Sophomore forward Kenyatta Shelton posted nine points and nine rebounds for the second-straight game.
Evansville guard Rebekah Parker led the Purple Aces with 20 points and four assists. Forward Robyn Jennings had a team-best nine rebounds.
"I am so proud of the way we were able to bounce back from the recent losses and win today," said head coach Robin Pingeton. "This is a big win for this program, athletic department and university. It has been a while since we have won a conference title in women's basketball, whether it's outright or shared. We have worked so hard all season and to win it at home on Senior Day is very satisfying."
ISU dominated the boards, outrebounding Evansville 50-30, and had 22 boards on the offensive end, one-shy of the team's single-game high this season. Six different Redbirds had at least four rebounds. ISU's starting backcourt of Cirone, Hudson and Krick combined for 16 assists and just three turnovers.
The first half featured eight ties and 11 lead changes in the first 14 minutes of play as the two teams battled back and forth early on. Three-straight jumpers gave the Redbirds a three-point edge, 15-12, with 11:27 remaining in the half. After six more lead changes and four ties, the Redbirds went on an 18-4 run to take their first double-digit lead of the game, 44-30. Cirone Krick and Shelton combined for 15 points during the spree and Hudson started it all with a three-pointer. Evansville made three free throws in the final 1:16 of the half to produce the 44-33 halftime score.
Krick had buckets in ISU's first two possessions of the period and the `Birds maintained at least a 13-point edge for the first three minutes. After Evansville pulled within eight points, the Redbirds answered with a 7-0 run to pull back ahead by 15, 59-44. The Purple Aces came right back with seven-straight points of their own to cut the deficit to eight points again, 59-51. Not to be outdone, ISU went on another 7-0 run and led by double-digits the rest of the game.
Lewis completed a three-point play as she was fouled down low after taking a pass from Krick to give ISU a 19-point advantage, its biggest of the game, 82-63, with 2:03 remaining in the game.
The State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Women's Basketball Tournament begins Thursday, March 13, at the Family Arena in St. Charles Missouri. Illinois State will open play in the tournament on Friday. The `Birds will pay at 12:05 p.m. if they are the No. 1 or at 6:05 p.m. if they are No. 2.
