Jan. 11, 2011
Box Score
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -
Emily Hanley's 22 points weren't enough to spark a Redbird offense that struggled for the second-consecutive game. Illinois State (10-5, 2-2 MVC) fell to Missouri State (13-4, 4-1 MVC), 76-61, Tuesday night at JQH Arena. The Lady Bears snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Redbirds.
Hanley was just two-points shy of her career-high in scoring and tied her career-best mark of 10 field goals. She also led the Redbirds with eight rebounds and two steals. Katie Broadway netted 10 points and had five rebounds.
The top-ranked scoring defense in the Valley gave the Redbirds trouble all night. Missouri State came into the game allowing just 59.6 points per game and led the conference with 6.4 blocks per game. Illinois State committed 21turnovers, which Missouri State turned into 18 points on the other end. Tia Mays had eight of Missouri State's 10 blocks, the most by a Redbird opponent all season.
"Missouri State is a talented, deep team and they outplayed us tonight," said head coach Stephanie Glance. "We played well and had solid effort at times tonight, but we are still not consistent enough. We need to learn how to handle adversity better and not put ourselves in situations that are difficult to come back from."
The game was tight at the start, with three ties and two lead changes in the first five minutes. Four Redbirds scored during a 10-2 run that put ISU ahead, 16-12, at the 12-minute mark.
Jaleshia Roberson made three of Missouri State's four three-pointers in a 16-2 run that put the Lady Bears ahead by double-digits for the first time, 28-18, with just under seven minutes left in the half. ISU's offense struggled, shooting just 2-for-12 from the field, to allow Missouri State to go on the game-controlling run.
The Redbirds got back onto the scoreboard with three-point plays by Alexis Jenkins and Hanley, but they were unable to stop Missouri State enough on the other end to cut into the lead. The Lady Bears made four free throws in the final minute to head into the half with a 42-32 lead. Hanley led the Redbirds with 15 points and six rebounds; scoring the final seven points of the half. The other eight Redbirds had 17 points on 7-of-26 shooting.
Roberson and Casey Garrison combined for 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting for Missouri State.
Garrison made two transition jumpers as Missouri State scored the first eight points of the second half to extend their lead to 50-32. ISU missed its first four shots of the half before Broadway knocked down the 100th three-pointer of her career, making her the ninth Redbird to reach that mark.
Unfortunately, that milestone three-pointer did little to rejuvenate the stagnant Redbird offense, which went the next six minutes without scoring. Midway through the second half, ISU was shooting just 1-for-11 from the field and had 10 turnovers. A pair of free throws stretched the Missouri State lead to 20 points, 57-37, with 9:51 remaining.
Roberson's fourth three-pointer gave Missouri State its largest lead of the game, 70-46, at 4:37. Hanley scored on the ensuing possession for ISU; her first field goal of the second half.
Illinois State closes out its four-game road swing at Wichita State Sunday at 2:05 p.m.
