Nov. 11, 2011
Box Score
Postgame Interview with Stephanie Glance
Play-by-Play Highlights
MUNCIE, Ind. -
In her first game as a Redbird, junior transfer Jamie Russell led the Illinois State women's basketball team to a 63-52 victory over Ball State Friday at Worthen Arena. Russell led all scorers with 19 points and recorded four steals for ISU.
Maddie Oliver netted 14 points in her collegiate debut and grabbed five rebounds, while Katie Broadway added 10 points. Alexis Jenkins had seven assists. ISU shot 42 percent from the field, while BSU shot 32 percent. The Cardinals collected 45 rebounds, compared to 37 for the Redbirds.
The Redbirds made their first four shots of the game, grabbing a four-point lead over Ball State, 9-5, early in the first half. Back-to-back baskets by Broadway and Russell gave Illinois State a six-point lead, 13-7, with 15:35 left in the half. After a strong offensive start to the game, the Redbirds were held scoreless for nearly five minutes, while the Cardinals went on a 6-0 run, taking their first lead of the game, 17-16, with 9:38 left in the half.
With 4:23 remaining in the first half, Candace Sykes hit a shot from behind the arc, giving the lead back to the Redbirds, 25-24, and recharging the ISU offense. Illinois State ended the half on a 14-6 run, including a jumper by Oliver with 10 seconds left to give ISU a nine-point advantage, 39-30, heading into the locker room.
At the half, Broadway, Russell and Sykes each tallied eight points, while Oliver and Russell each brought down three rebounds. BSU's Brittany Carter led all scorers with 12 points. Ball State shot 39 percent from the field, compared to Illinois State's 55 percent.
The Redbirds were scoreless for nearly the first four minutes of the second half, but Oliver got things started for the Redbirds, as she hit back-to-back shots for ISU, 43-34, with 15:02 left in the game. Illinois State saw its lead cut to four, 47-43, after Ball State grabbed an offensive board off a missed free throw and hit a jumper.
Illinois State regained momentum off of a fastbreak play from Russell to Broadway. Russell kept things going with back-to-back jumpers with 4:18 left in the game, 54-43. Oliver continued to be a threat inside for ISU, as she hit two-straight shots, increasing ISU's lead to 12 points, 58-46, with 2:42 left in the game. Ball State wasn't able to battle back, as ISU went on to win, 63-52.
The Redbirds will return to the court Thursday, Nov. 17, against in-state rival Northwestern. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., in Evanston, Ill.
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