Feb. 19, 2009
Final Stats
CARBONDALE, Ill. -
Nicolle Lewis's double-double and clutch free throws down the stretch to led Illinois State (21-4, 12-1 MVC) over Southern Illinois (7-16, 3-11 MVC), 71-68, Thursday afternoon at SIU Arena. The Redbirds have won 10-straight, the sixth double-digit winning streak in program history.
Lewis had a game-high 25 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks for her fourth double-double of the season. It was the sixth 20-point effort of her career; her first since scoring 28 against SIU last season (March 6). She was 9-for-9 from the free throw line, including a pair with nine seconds left on the clock.
Kristi Cirone added 20 points and three assists, moving her into fifth place on the MVC career scoring list with 1,949 points. Maggie Krick was the other Redbird in double-figures with 14 points. The trio of Lewis, Cirone and Krick combined for 59 of Illinois State's 71 points. ISU was 21-for-25 from the free throw line.
Southern Illinois made 10 three-pointers on the afternoon, the third-most in a game against the Redbirds this season. Erica Smith paces the Salukis with 14 points, including four threes, but was held scoreless in the second half.
"This was a really hard fought game, very physical," said head coach Robin Pingeton. "Southern Illinois gave us their best shot. They are a much different team at home then on the road. They hit some shots tonight that they hadn't been hitting all season, especially from the three-point line. Nicolle had a tremendous game on both ends of the floor. I am really proud of our effort and the toughness we showed tonight."
A three-pointer by Kaci Bailey put SIU ahead by four early on, but the Bracey scored six-straight points to fuel a 12-0 run that put the Redbirds ahead, 20-12, with 10 minutes remaining in the half. The Salukis came right back with a 14-4 run to retake the lead, 26-24. SIU nailed back-to-back three-pointers and held the Redbirds without a field goal for nearly four minutes. Over the final 10 minutes of the half, Southern Illinois outscored the Redbirds 24-12.
SIU was 6-for-11 from three-point range in the first half, with four of those threes coming from Smith. The six threes were tied for the second-most the Redbirds have allowed in a half this season.
ISU scored the first six points of the second half to regain the lead, 38-36. The two teams then traded one-point leads six times before Cirone nailed the first Redbird three-pointer of the game to extend the lead to four points, 49-45. Just as they did all game, the Salukis answered with a three of their own on the ensuing possession, but Krick came right back down the floor for her first triple.
Just as the clock reached 10 minutes to go in the game, Bailey made her third three-pointer to tie the game again, 54-54. Three free throws put the Redbirds back on top, but the Salukis stayed close and Jasmine Gibson's three-pointer put them ahead once again, 61-60.
Lewis made two free throws to give the lead back to ISU and then had what proved to be the play of the game. On the next possession, she rebounded her own miss, made a layup as she was fouled hard and then made the free throw to complete the three-point play and extend the Redbird lead to 65-61.
A Gibson jumper tied the game at 67 with a minute left. ISU's final four points came on free throws, as Krick and Shala Jackson put the `Birds ahead with one each and Lewis extended the lead to three with a pair of her own. Bailey appeared to make a three-pointer at the end of the game, but the referee waved it off well before the shot attempt.
Illinois State is back on the road Saturday to face Evansville at 5 p.m.
