Nov. 15, 2009
Box Score
IOWA CITY, Iowa -
Illinois State (1-1) made a comeback in the second half, but a 14-4 Iowa run over the final six minutes proved to be too much for the Redbirds to overcome. The Hawkeyes (2-0) won their 19th KCRG Hawkeye Challenge, beating the Redbirds, 75-67. Seniors Maggie Krick and Nicolle Lewis were named to the all-tournament team.
Krick led the Redbirds again with 24 points on 10-of-22 shooting, tying her career-high for shots made. She also had five assists and four rebounds. Lewis had 20 points, five rebounds and two blocks. Both players eclipsed 20 points for the first time this season.
Iowa made nine three-pointers and 22 free throws in the game. Kachine Alexander was named the tournament MVP with her second double-double of 21 points and 12 rebounds. She was 13-of-16 from the free throw line.
After giving up a fastbreak layup off a turnover on the opening possession, the Redbirds scored seven-straight points to take a 7-2 lead two minutes in. The Redbirds apparently saw an advantage down low with Lewis, feeding her early and often for 10 of the Redbird's first 21 points.
Iowa kept pace and eventually took the lead with three-point shooting. The Hawkeyes tied the game twice early with three-pointers and a triple started a 10-4 run that put them ahead by seven, 30-23, with five minutes left in the half. ISU went 5:30 without a field goal, a draught that was snapped by a Lewis layup and a Krick three that pulled the Redbirds within a basket. Iowa connected on two more three-pointers, including one over Lewis as the clock expired, to take a 36-31 halftime lead.
Iowa took 19 of its 34 shots in the first half from behind the three-point arc, making seven.
The two teams matched one another shot for shot to start the second half, keeping the Redbirds down by at least three points. Senior Ashleen Bracey stole a pass near midcourt and found Krick with an outlet pass, who cut across the lane for a layup as she was fouled. She made the free throw to tie the game at 46.
Iowa maintained the lead, but then junior Hannah Spanich scored the first six points of an 8-1 ISU run that put the Redbirds back on top, 56-51. Spanich had 10 points and four rebounds off the bench in her second game as a Redbird. Iowa pulled within one before junior Amanda Clifton had two nice assists, finding Krick for a jumper on an inbounds play and junior Emily Hanley for a slashing layup, to keep the lead at five, 63-58.
A three-pointer at 3:51 put the Hawkeyes back in the lead, 64-63, as the Hawkeyes scored 10 unanswered points to take a 68-62 lead. ISU went more than five minutes without a score after that lead-changing run. Krick snapped the drought with a jumper, but the Redbirds would get no closer than three points.
Illinois State opens its home schedule against South Dakota State Thursday at 7:05 p.m.
