Jan. 16, 2011
Box Score
Post-Game Interview
WICHITA, Kan. -
Illinois State erased an 18-point second-half deficit, but came up just short in its third-consecutive loss. The Redbirds (10-6, 2-3 MVC) fell at Wichita State (9-8, 3-3 MVC), 59-56, Sunday afternoon, snapping a six-game winning streak over the Shockers. The Redbirds tied the game in the final two minutes and had a look at a game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer.
Shala Jackson scored 20 of her career-high 25 points in the second half to lead the Redbirds on the comeback. She recorded career-highs with seven field goals and 11 free throws and also had a team-high seven rebounds. Emily Hanley had 12 points and six rebounds for the Redbirds. Amanda Clifton added nine points and five assists.
"Even though this will go in the standings as a loss, I am really encouraged by our effort in the second half. The team that showed up in the second half is the one we have been looking for the past couple of games," said ISU head coach Stephanie Glance. "I feel like we are back to where we need to be to compete in this league. I would have been concerned if we came out in the second half with the same effort we gave in the first halt just because we were down again. Shala Jackson provided great energy and the team fed off that."
Back-to-back three-pointers helped Wichita State build a 10-4 lead in the opening minutes. After a Clifton jumper pulled the Redbirds within two, the Shockers answered with three-straight buckets to extend their lead to 18-10 with 11:45 remaining. Those 18 points were scored by seven different Shockers and 10 came off Redbird turnovers.
Jazmien Gordon worked free inside for a layup to cap seven-straight points that put Wichita State ahead by double-digits for the first time, 25-14, at 6:01. The Shockers outscored the Redbirds 16-7 in the final nine minutes of the half to take a 34-21 lead at halftime. The Redbirds managed just one field goal in that span, getting all of their offense from five free throws.
ISU's 21 points came on 7-of-22 shooting from the field and were the fewest the Redbirds have scored in a half all season. Hanley led the Redbirds with seven points, as no Redbird made more than two field goals. Wichita State scored 14 points off of 13 Redbird turnovers and had 12 second-chance points.
The Shockers' opened the second half with a 7-2 run to take their biggest lead of the game, 41-23. Illinois State's offense continued to struggle into the second half, with just one field goal in the first five minutes.
Jackson sparked the sluggish Redbirds, scoring 12 of the team's first 16 points of the second half. She was able to penetrate the Shocker defense for three layups and drew three fouls, making six-straight free throws. Clifton drove baseline for a layup, ISU's sixth-consecutive, to cap a 12-0 run and pull the Redbirds within six, 49-43, at the 9:34 mark. Wichita State was held scoreless for a span of 5:33.
Jackson continued to fuel the Redbirds, making two more free throws and converting a three-point play as she was fouled on a driving layup to make it a two-point game, 51-49, with 4:27 remaining. After two Shocker scores, Jackson made a pull-up jumper as the shot clock expired and Hanley made a free throw to keep the deficit at one possession, 55-52, heading into the final two minutes.
ISU grabbed an offensive rebound off a missed free throw and Clifton found Hanley streaking down the lane for a layup that completed the comeback and tied the score at 55. Wichita State went right down the floor for a layup to maintain the advantage. In the closing seconds, the Redbirds broke down the floor off a Wichita State miss, looking for the final shot. Jackson was fouled with five seconds left, but missed the first free throw, snapping her string of nine-straight makes in the half. She made the second to pull the Redbirds within one, 57-56, with five seconds on the clock.
The Redbirds fouled immediately on the inbounds pass and Jessica Diamond knocked down both free throws to extend the Shocker lead to three. Clifton put up a contested three-pointer at the buzzer that bounced off the far rim.
The Redbirds return home for the first time in four games Thursday to host Creighton at 7:05 p.m.
