Dec. 1, 2010
Box Score
Post-Game Interview
CHICAGO -
DePaul (7-1) used two double-digit runs in the first half to take control and hand Illinois State (3-2) its second-consecutive loss, 100-83, Wednesday afternoon. ISU allowed 100 points to an opponent for the first time in six years.
DePaul's 100-point performance was just the seventh ISU has surrendered in 40 years, and the first since Kansas State scored 105 in the 2004 Preseason WNIT. Keisha Hampton led all players with 30 points on 10-of-18 shooting, making her the first Redbird opponent to eclipse 30 points since Kansas's Danielle McCary netted 31 in the 2009 WNIT Semifinals.
Shala Jackson led Illinois State with 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, to go along with three rebounds and two steals. Katie Broadway had 12 points, followed closely by Emily Hanley's 11 and Hannah Spanich's 10.
"We couldn't handle DePaul's strength, size and skill inside. We allowed them to knock us back on our heels and take control of the game," said ISU head coach Stephanie Glance. "I feel like we prepared well for the pressure defense that DePaul brings, but once we beat the press, we had a hard time readjusting back into our offense. Once we fell behind the way we did in the first half, it was difficult to come back."
The loss snapped a nine-game winning streak for ISU against Illinois teams and marked the Redbirds' first consecutive losses in 43 games.
Five-straight points gave ISU its first lead, 13-12. After the teams traded three baskets each, DePaul scored 15 unanswered points in just under four minutes to take a commanding 35-19 lead with 9:58 remaining in the half. ISU went over four minutes without scoring, with six missed shots, and turned the ball over three times during that stretch.
A three by Broadway snapped the Redbird cold spell, but DePaul answered quickly with a 12-2 run to take its biggest lead of the half, 47-24, at 6:21. A three-pointer by Hanley and a free throw by Megan Grace cut the deficit down to 54-37 in the closing seconds. DePaul rebounded Grace's missed second free throw, pushed the ball down the floor and hit a jumper at the buzzer to pull ahead, 56-37, at the half.
DePaul shot 64.5 percent in the first half, scored 17 points off 11 ISU turnovers and scored 11 second-chance points. The Blue Demons' 56 points in the half were the most ISU has allowed since Robert Morris put up 52 in second half the Preseason WNIT two seasons ago.
ISU shot a solid 46.9 percent in the first half. Hanley, Broadway and Jackson combined for 24 of ISU's 37 points on 10-of-18 shooting. The rest of the team shot just 5-of-17 from the field.
ISU used a 14-4 run in just under three minutes to cut the deficit down to 10 points, 70-60, at the midpoint of the second half. ISU hit two three-pointers and converted a three-point play as four different players scored during the run. DePaul took back control with a 10-2 run, making six-consecutive free throws.
Alexis Jenkins converted a rare four-point play, making a three-pointer from the right wing as she was fouled and hitting the free throw. Illinois State shot a season-high 65.4 percent (17-26) in the second half, making six three-pointers. ISU shot 55.2 percent for the game, edging out DePaul's 54.8 percent.
Illinois State returns home to host Illinois-Chicago Saturday at 2:05 p.m.
