Feb. 26, 2009
Stats | Photo Gallery 
NORMAL, Ill. - Senior guard Kristi Cirone scored a career-high six three-point baskets as Illinois State defeated Bradley, 82-61, for its 12th-consecutive win Thursday on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.
With the win, Illinois State is guaranteed to finish no lower than second place in the Missouri Valley Conference regular season standings.
Cirone led all scorers with 34 points in the game. Nicolle Lewis (15) and Maggie Krick (11) also had double digits scoring efforts, adding to the Redbird offense. Illinois State (23-4, 14-1 MVC) went 27-for-61 from the field, shooting 44 percent.
Monica Rogers (14), Skye Johnson (10) and Raisa Taylor (12) all had double-digit nights for the Braves (19-7, 10-5 MVC).
After winning the tipoff, Illinois State went scoreless for the first 3:56 of the game, as Bradley went on a 7-0 run. Illinois State's first basket came from Ashleen Bracey with a jumper at the 16:04 mark.
Bradley continued to extend its lead, and after a trey by Hanna Muegge, Bradley had its biggest lead of the half, 18-6.
However, Illinois State battled back and took the lead, 24-22, after a layup and free throw by Lewis with 5:57 left in the half. The 12- point lead by Bradley was the largest deficit the Redbirds have had to overcome in a win this season.
The Redbirds maintained their lead in large part to their free throw shooting and lead at halftime, 38-33, after a buzzer trey from Cirone. The Redbirds went 9-for-11 in free throws in the first half.
Lewis and Cirone opened the second half for the Redbirds with two jumpers and back-to-back three-point plays, scoring the Redbirds' first 10 points. Two minutes into the second half, Illinois State extended its lead to nine, 46-37.
Bradley tried to respond and cut Illinois State's lead to five after a jumper by Sonya Harris. However, the Redbird offense could not be stopped and answered with a 10-0 run, bringing the score to 71-55 with 4:37 left in the game.
The Redbirds secured their 82-61 win over Bradley with a trey by Brea Banks with 27 seconds left in the game.
The Redbirds are undefeated at home (11-0) and will host Northern Iowa Sunday at 2:05 p.m. on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena for their last home game.
