Jan. 3, 2011
Box Score
Post-Game Interview
DEKALB, Ill. -
A red-hot offensive performance in the first half led Illinois State (10-3) to its fifth-consecutive win in its final non-conference game of the season. The Redbirds beat Northern Illinois (6-7), 73-51, Monday night; ending the Redbirds' streak of four games in seven days.
"This string of games was both physically and mentally demanding for us. I really challenged the players to stay mentally tough and they responded fantastically, winning all four games," said ISU head coach Stephanie Glance. "Playing this many games in such a short period of time is a unique challenge. We approached it one day at a time and now can look back at four wins as a great accomplishment. I was really happy with how we came out and set the tone in the first half tonight."
Three Redbirds scored in double-figures, lead by Katie Broadway's 18. Broadway shot 7-of-11 from the field, including 3-of-5 from three-point range, and scored 12 points in the first half. Hannah Spanich scored 16 points, making both of her three-pointers and all six of her free throws. She also had a team-high eight rebounds and a career-high five blocks. Marley Hall scored a career-high 10 points, shooting 4-for-4 from the field, to go along with three rebounds and a steal.
Four different players scored as the Redbirds opened up with an 11-0 lead to start the game. The 11unanswered points were the most the Redbirds had scored to begin a game all season. ISU shot 4-for-7 to start, while NIU missed its first six shots from the floor.
A layup by Ebony Ellis finally put the Huskies on the scoreboard five minutes into the game. ISU answered with an 8-0 run, including back-to-back three-pointers by Candace Sykes and Broadway, to extend the lead to 19-2. The Huskies' offense started to come together at the free throw line, where they shot 6-of-8, and NIU trailed, 27-15, with 5:29 remaining.
A three-pointer on the right wing by Spanich capped 10-straight points that stretched the lead over 20 points for the first time and a layup by Hall in the final minute gave the Redbirds their largest lead of the half, 41-17. ISU shot 5-for-10 from three-point range in the first half, with Broadway and Spanich each making a pair from long range.
Illinois State held NIU to just 21.4 percent shooting in the half. Northern Illinois came into the game ranked fifth in the nation in three-point shooting, but shot just 1-for-6 from beyond the arc in the half.
Broadway knocked down her third three-pointer three minutes into the second half to give ISU its biggest advantage of the game, 50-23. NIU answered quickly with its best offensive stretch to that point, using a 16-4 run to cut the deficit to 54-39 with just over 12 minutes remaining. Marke Freeman scored eight points during the run, making two three-pointers, and Danielle Pulliam added six. Illinois State went nearly six minutes without a field goal, missing four shots and turning the ball over four times.
Emily Hanley snapped the drought with a jumper inside the lane and started a 7-2 run for the Redbirds. Later in the half, a 10-1 run stretched the lead back above 20 points, 71-45, with two minutes remaining.
ISU shot 50 percent in the second half and NIU improved to 46.2 percent. Illinois State outrebounded the Huskies, 37-28, in the game.
Illinois State remains on the road to take on Indiana State Saturday at 1:05 p.m.
