Jan. 24, 2009
Final Stats |
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NORMAL, Ill. - Three Redbirds reached double figures including Kristi Cirone, who scored a game-high 18 points, as lllinois State rolled to a 75-51 win over Southern Illinois on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena Saturday afternoon. Illinois State snapped a three-game home skid to the Salukis and has won 13 of its last 14 contests.
The Redbirds (15-4, 6-1 MVC) shot 52 percent (26-for-50) as a team while Nicolle Lewis (10) and Maggie Krick (10) joined Cirone in double-figures. Illinois State's Shala Jackson notched a game-high eight rebounds, part of a 43-27 edge by the Redbirds on the boards. In all, seven Redbirds scored at least six points.
Illinois State scored the first four points of the game and scored 15 of the first 20 while building towards a 40-29 halftime advantage. The Redbirds never trailed throughout the contest and led by as much as 26 in the second half.
Jasmine Gibson and Erica Smith led Southern Illinois (4-12, 0-7 MVC) with 11 points, but the Redbirds held Gibson to two points in the second half. The Salukis went 2-for-15 from beyond the three-point line in the game and managed just seven assists.
The Redbirds return to action Friday when they face Bradley in a game to be played at Illinois Central College in East Peoria, Ill. Limited seating is available for the 7:05 p.m. tipoff in Ramsey Gym, which has a capacity of 1,200. Tickets are available by contacting the Bradley ticket office starting Monday at 9 a.m.
