Feb. 18, 2010
Box Score
EVANSVILLE, Ind. -
After a slow first half, Illinois State (19-5, 12-1 MVC) pulled away from Evansville (4-21, 1-13 MVC) after halftime to win its 12th-straight game, 67-50, Thursday night. The 12-consecutive wins match the longest streak of last season and is tied for the fourth-longest streak in program history.
Nicolle Lewis led the Redbirds with 14 points, seven rebounds and one block. Shala Jackson added 12 points and five rebounds off the bench. Katie Broadway was the other Redbird in double-figures with 10 points, connecting on a pair of three-pointers.
Leading by just two at halftime, the Redbirds outscored the Purple Aces by 15 points in the second half, shooting 50 percent from the field.
"We challenged the players at halftime and they responded tremendously well in the second half," said ISU head coach Robin Pingeton. "We guarded harder on defense and that allowed us to move the ball in transition on offense. We knew coming in this was going to be a difficult atmosphere to play in, but we adjusted and created our own energy. Our bench gave a great effort, especially Shala and Emily."
Evansville made five three-pointers in the first half, three to start the game and take a 9-5 lead. Six-straight points form Jackson and a three-pointer from Broadway gave ISU its first lead, 18-17. The two teams traded baskets four times, with the Redbirds holding a two-point edge and taking a 33-31 lead into halftime.
The Redbirds scored nine unanswered points in a two-minute span to stretch their lead to double-digits for the first time, 52-38. Emily Hanley energized the `Birds with a three-point play on a fastbreak layup. Hannah Spanich then capped a 9-2 run with a three-pointer to give ISU its biggest lead of the night, 63-42.
Lewis scored just two points in the first half, but came on strong in the second half with 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting to help ISU outscore Evansville 25-9 in the first 13 minutes.
The Redbirds, the nation's leader in free throw percentage, shot a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line. It marked the eighth time ISU has not missed a free throw in a game.
Illinois State visits Southern Illinois Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
