Feb. 21, 2009
Box Score
EVANSVILLE, Ind. -
Despite nearly giving up a 26-point second-half lead, Illinois State (22-4, 13-1 MVC) hung on to beat Evansville (10-16, 3-12 MVC), 67-54, at Roberts Stadium Saturday. The Redbirds extended their winning streak to 11 games, tied for the fourth-longest in school history.
Maggie Krick led all scorers with 21 points, her first 20-point effort since Dec. 3 against Western Illinois. Krick shot a career-best 12-of-13 from the free throw line, which was tied for the sixth-most in a single-game in ISU history. Nicolle Lewis turned in her second-straight double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Kristi Cirone and Shala Jackson each chipped in nine points. Cirone had her double-digit scoring streak snapped at 17 games.
"Evansville came out with a great sense of urgency in the second half and we really had to battle for this win," said head coach Robin Pingeton. "Evansville is a really physical team and we missed some shots that we don't usually miss. I am really proud of the way we played in the last four minutes. To step up the way they did with two starters out and Evansville pulling within two points says a lot about their toughness and resolve."
Evansville's Ashley Austin, Robyn Jennings and Shannon Novosel combined for 35 points and 19 rebounds for the Purple Aces. After shooting just 13 percent in the first half, Evansville shot better than 51 percent in the second to nearly complete an improbable comeback.
ISU jumped out to a 14-2 lead, courtesy of four points from Jackson and back-to-back threes by Cirone and Krick. Evansville was just 1-of-12 from the field and committed five turnovers to start the game. The Redbirds could have opened up the lead a little more, but had a short scoring drought where they missed six-straight shots.
Austin's jumper at 7:53 snapped a near 10-minute scoring drought for Evansville, but the Purple Aces were still down by double-figures. After starting the game 4-for-8 from the field, the Redbirds needed 15 shot attempts to make their next four field goals, but still led, 20-6, with less than four minutes to go in the half.
Lewis scored five-straight points and Amanda Clifton made a layup at the buzzer for the Redbirds to stretch their lead to 30-11 at halftime. Evansville was just 3-for-23 from the field in the half and the 11 points were the lowest scored in a half against ISU all season.
The Redbird lead surpassed 20 points, 41-15, early in the second half, but then Evansville seemed to find a spark, using a 22-3 run to pull within seven, 44-37, with 11 minutes left. The Purple Aces started the run out with 16-straight points, holding the Redbirds without a field goal for nearly five minutes.
A three-pointer from Jordan Lewis and a tip-in by Austin cut the deficit down to two points, 48-46, with six minutes left. Cirone fouled out at the 4:47 mark, but the Redbirds answered with a quick 6-0 run to give themselves a little more cushion. Austin came right back with a three-point play and the Redbird lead stood at 54-49 with 3:45 to go.
After a steal by Novosel, Ashley Bamberger was left open on the wing for a three-pointer to cut the lead down to two points. That is as far as the Purple Aces' comeback would go as the Redbirds closed the game with a 13-2 run. Lewis and Krick knocked down six-straight free throws to keep the Purple Aces at bay.
The Redbirds return home to face Bradley Thursday at 7:05 p.m.
