Dec. 15, 2009
Box Score
MILWAUKEE, Wis. -
Illinois State (4-3) ratcheted up its defense in the second half, holding Wisconsin-Milwaukee (5-5) to just 11 points, to beat the Panthers, 51-38, Tuesday night. The Redbirds held the Panthers to the lowest point total by an opponent in nearly 16 years.
Senior Nicolle Lewis notched her 12th-career double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Senior Ashleen Bracey had a game-high 18 points and seven rebounds.
ISU had a season-high eight blocks and nine steals. Junior Hannah Spanich, making her first start as a Redbird, contributed career-bests of four blocks and four steals. Bracey and Lewis each had two blocks and a steal.
"I think we were embarrassed by our defensive effort against Ball State and the players really turned up the intensity tonight," said ISU head coach Robin Pingeton. "There were some segments of the game when they were so aggressive on defense, diving on the floor for loose balls and making the rotations that made our pressure work well. They struggled shooting the ball at times, but I loved how hard they played."
Illinois State opened the second half with a 12-2 run, extending its lead to double-digits, 41-29. Lewis scored seven of ISU's nine unanswered points to start the half. The Panthers went 10:53 into the half without a field goal, missing their first 14 shots and turning the ball over four times.
After watching the Panthers struggle so mightily offensively, the Redbirds went over 11 minutes without a field goal, missing 14-consecutive shots of their own. Milwaukee pulled back within five points, 43-38, with 3:13 remaining, but didn't score after that.
UWM shot just 11.5 percent from the field (3-26) in the second half and its 38 points were the lowest scored by an ISU opponent since Iowa State scored 37 on Dec. 18, 1993.
Trailing 16-9 midway through the first half, the Redbirds went on a 14-2 run to take its largest lead up to that point, 23-18. Bracey and Hanley combined for nine points and all six Redbird field goals came in the paint. The lead didn't last long, however, as Milwaukee scored five quick points to tie the score at 23. After a made free throw, the Redbirds stole the inbounds pass and Krick scored down low to give them a 29-27 halftime advantage.
Illinois State visits Illinois-Chicago Friday at 7 p.m.
