Nov. 14, 2009
Box Score
IOWA CITY, Iowa -
In a second half full of momentum changing moments, Illinois State (1-0) made the final run to beat UCLA (0-1) in the KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge, 61-55, Saturday afternoon. The Redbirds outscored the Bruins 8-3 in the final 90 seconds to pull out the victory. ISU takes on Iowa in the Hawkeye Challenge championship game tomorrow at 2 p.m.
Illinois State bounced back from a tough offensive first half to shoot 43 percent and make 18 free throws in the second half. The Redbirds had four players score in double-figures, led by senior Maggie Krick's 15 points. Senior Nicolle Lewis recorded the 11th double-double of her career with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Senior Ashleen Bracey added 11 points, seven rebounds and three blocks, and junior Shala Jackson chipped in 10 points.
"This was a huge win for a lot of reasons," said ISU head coach Robin Pingeton. "It wasn't pretty either way, but our girls stuck with it, played with a lot of toughness and got a great win for our program. UCLA is a physical, athletic team, but we really stayed the course and fought hard for the win."
Illinois State beat UCLA for the second time in the second all-time meeting between the two schools, the first since 1982. The Bruins received 26 votes in the Associated Press preseason poll.
The first half lacked offensive punch early, with the Redbirds leading, 15-12, midway through. UCLA took advantage of a five-minute Redbird scoring drought to pull ahead, 18-15, with eight minutes to go in the half.
A three-point play by Bracey gave the Redbirds a one-point edge, but they went more than three minutes without a basket again. Krick snapped the scoring drought with a jumper and ISU grabbed the defensive rebound on the ensuing UCLA possession and found Jackson wide open behind the defense for a transition layup.
Hanley gave the Redbirds a lift going into the locker room, scoring off an offensive rebound and then drawing a charge on the other end to preserve a four-point lead, 27-23.
Trailing by one early in the second half, ISU went on a 15-3 run to take its largest lead, 46-35, with nine minutes left in the game. UCLA committed five fouls and ISU made six free throws during the run. The Redbirds gave three of those fouls back in the next UCLA possession and the Bruins cut five points out of the deficit.
A three-point play by Darxia Morris, as she was fouled on a layup, erased the double-digit deficit and tied the game at 51. The Bruins erased the 11-point Redbird lead with a 16-5 run, forcing six ISU turnovers.
With the score tied at 53, Bracey made the biggest shot of the game, nailing a three-pointer from the left side with 90 seconds remaining. The Bruins came right back down the floor for a layup, but the Redbirds made five free throws in the last minute to preserve the win.
