March 1, 2009
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NORMAL, Ill. -
Senior Kristi Cirone became Illinois State's all-time leading scorer after tallying a game-high 28 points in a 76-73 overtime loss to Northern Iowa, which featured 17 lead changes, at Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena on Sunday. Cirone now has 2,020-career points and surpassed Cathy Boswell, who held the scoring record for the last 26 years at 2,005-career points.
Cirone (28), Maggie Krick (17), and Ashleen Bracey (14) all scored in double figures for Illinois State (23-5, 14-2 MVC). Cirone had a game-high eight assists, while Bracey grabbed 10 rebounds, marking her fifth double-double of the season and 12th for her career. Nicolle Lewis eclipsed Leslie Ferrell for the all-time blocks record after recording four today, and 178 for her career.
Kim Wypiszynski (20), K.K. Armstrong (15), Nicole Clausen (14) and Lizzie Boeck (11) all scored in double figures for UNI (9-18, 7-9 MVC). Armstrong had a team-high nine rebounds for the Panthers, and contributed to a 31-4 advantage in points off the bench.
In the first half Illinois State scored the first bucket of the game on a Cirone jumper, but Erin Brocka knocked down a three-pointer at the 16:25 giving UNI its first lead of the game, 3-2. The Panthers built on the lead, going on a 14-2 run, holding the Redbirds without a field goal for 5:41 with their largest lead, 23-12, coming at the 8:37 mark.
The Redbirds continued to chip away at the lead behind Cirone and Lewis, who combined for 13-straight points. Bracey's free throw at the 1:11 mark gave Illinois its first lead, 28-27, since being up 2-0. Illinois entered halftime up 33-30.
Illinois State held UNI without a field goal for 5:40 to start the second half. The Redbirds built their largest lead of the game when Bracey had a tip-in at the 15:16 mark to give the `Birds a 47-35 advantage. The Panthers clawed their way back into the game and took their first lead of the second half, 61-60, at the 2:31 mark behind a Wypiszynski jumper. The two teams traded buckets down the stretch and at the end of regulation was tied, 65-65.
Bracey scored the first bucket in overtime for the Redbirds, to put them up 67-65, but the lead was short-lived as Armstrong knocked down a three-pointer to put the Panthers up, 72-71. ISU took its last lead, 73-72, on a Cirone jumper but the Panthers hit a pair of free throws to retake the lead 74-73, and never relinquished it. The Redbirds fell 76-73 to the Panthers after Krick's last second three-point attempt came up short.
The Redbirds will tip-off with Drake March 5 at 7:05 in Des Moines, Iowa.
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