Jan. 20, 2011
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Post-Game Interview
NORMAL, Ill. - Emily Hanley poured in a game-high 21 points and Katie Broadway came off the bench to add 16 points as Illinois State (11-6, 3-3 MVC) cruised past Creighton (10-7, 4-2 MVC), 70-57, Thursday night at Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Redbirds and extended their home winning streak to eight games.
The Redbirds jumped out to an early 8-4 lead after a transition three pointer from Hannah Spanich at the 16:07 mark of the first half. After a Creighton bucket that cut the ISU lead to 8-6, the Redbirds went on a 9-0 tear to grab a 17-6 lead, capped by a Hanley layup at the 12:12 mark.
The Redbirds took their biggest lead of the first half at the 2:54 mark when Candace Sykes connected on a jumper to make it 27-14. Creighton answered with a short 4-0 run before the end of the half to narrow the Redbird lead to 27-18 as both teams headed into the locker room at halftime.
Broadway, outscored Creighton's bench in the first 20 minutes and led ISU in scoring in the first half with eight points on 3-for-3 shooting, including two three-point field goals. Three Bluejays tied for the scoring lead in the first half with four points. Creighton shot 31 percent in the first half, compared to 41 percent for the Redbirds.
The Redbirds and Bluejays traded buckets early in the second half, with ISU holding an 11 point advantage at 35-24 at the first media timeout. ISU took its biggest lead of the game at the 9:53 mark after Shala Jackson converted on a layup to leave the score at 43-29.
Illinois State soon found its lead cut to only five, as the Bluejays went on an 11-2 burst capped by a steal and layup from Sarah Nelson, leaving the score at 45-40 in favor of the Redbirds. With their backs against the ropes, the Redbirds responded, as Broadway buried threes on two-straight possessions to bring the ISU lead back up to nine at 51-42, at the 5:34 mark.
ISU's lead did not dip under 10 points over the last four minutes, as the Redbirds held their ground and pulled away, winning 70-57. Creighton now holds a 27-15 record all-time against the Redbirds. Nelson's 17 points set a new career-high for the Bluejay freshman.
Illinois State hosts Drake Saturday at 4:05 p.m.
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