March 7, 2009
Box Score
OMAHA -
In a back-and-forth game, it was Creighton (19-10, 14-4 MVC) who got the best of Illinois State (24-6, 15-3 MVC) in the end, beating the Redbirds in overtime, 65-62, in the final game of the regular season and the final game in Omaha Civic Auditorium. Creighton outscored the Redbirds 14-6 in the final six minutes, including overtime.
Maggie Krick led all scorers with 19 points, 15 of which came in the second half and overtime, and had two steals. Ashleen Bracey was just short of a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds and Shala Jackson added 11 points and seven rebounds.
Creighton outrebounded the Redbirds, 53-41, and had 26 offensive rebounds, the most an ISU opponent has grabbed all year. The Bluejays used that offensive glass advantage to score 20 second-chance points. The game featured 10 ties and six lead changes.
Creighton jumped out to a 9-2 lead early on, as the Redbirds couldn't find any offensive rhythm, shooting 1-for-7 from the field to start out. Bracey fueled an 8-2 run with six points to pull the Redbirds within one points, 11-10. Jackson scored five-straight points, including a three-point play that tied the game at 15.
Creighton answered quickly with a pair of three-pointers to maintain its six-point lead. The Redbirds battled back and a Krick jumper gave them their first lead of the game, 24-23. The Bluejays quickly regained the lead and held onto it until halftime, 30-28.
ISU opened the second half with a 9-0 run to retake the lead, 37-30. Creighton went more than four minutes without a field goal to start the period, but then went on an 11-1 run of its own to regain the lead, 41-38. The Redbirds' hot shooting did not last as they went 7:17 without a field goal.
Krick made a three-pointer to tie the game, but the Bluejays answered again with back-to-back threes to pull ahead, 47-41. The Redbird answered the call with an 8-0 run to pull back ahead, 49-47. Creighton quickly tied the score, but Krick scored five-straight points and ISU went back up, 56-51, with less than two minutes left.
A three-pointer by Stephani Rhoten and a jumper by Chevelle Herring tied the game at 56. After a Redbird turnover, Creighton had possession for the final shot, but Herring's jumper bounced off the rim wide.
The Bluejays made seven free throws in overtime to secure the win. Krick made a jumper to tie the game at 62 with 44 seconds left, but three Creighton free throws kept the Bluejays on top as the clock wound down. The Redbirds had the ball with seven seconds left and a chance to tie the game, but couldn't get a shot off from three-point range in time.
Illinois State now turns its attention to defending its title at the 2009 State Farm MVC Tournament. The No. 1 seed Redbirds will play a quarterfinal game Friday, March 13, at 12:05 p.m.
