Nov. 26, 2011
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NORMAL, Ill. -
Candace Sykes scored a career-high 20 points, including four three-pointers, to help lift Illinois State to an 81-62 non-conference win against Northern Illinois Saturday afternoon on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena. Katie Broadway also scored 20, which was two points shy of her career-best.
Marley Hall led all rebounders with 10 boards to go with 12 points for the game's only double-double performance. Jamie Russell also grabbed seven rebounds, which marked a new Redbird career-high for the junior-transfer. The Huskies were led by Ashley Sneed, who netted 14 points. Alicia Johnson grabbed a team-best five rebounds for NIU. Illinois State (2-2) outshot Northern Illinois (2-3), 53 percent from the field compared to 44 percent. ISU also out-rebounded NIU, 36-to-29.
The Redbirds never trailed, as ISU pulled ahead, 17-0, to start the game. Hall made a pair of free throws, Sykes buried two three-pointers and a jump shot, Russell hit a jumper, Broadway made a three-pointer and Katy Winge netted a jump shot to build an early double-digit advantage. Illinois State's defense held Northern Illinois without a point until Courtney Shelton scored with 13:30 remaining in the first half. Shelton's basket sparked NIU's offense, and the Huskies narrowly outscored ISU 29-26 over the ensuing 13 minutes to trail Illinois State, 43-29, at halftime.
Sykes led all first-half scorers with 13 points on 5-for-5 shooting from the field and 3-for-3 shooting from beyond the arc. Illinois State shot 58 percent overall and 80 percent from three-point range, compared to Northern Illinois' 45 percent shooting. Hall topped ISU's first-half rebounding effort with seven boards. She also helped the Redbirds build momentum at the end of the half with a buzzer-beating jump shot. ISU carried that momentum into the second half with a jumper by Russell to open the frame.
However, Northern Illinois responded with a 9-3 run to pull within 48-38 with 14:33 to play. A three-pointer by Broadway stopped NIU's streak, and another three by Sykes reestablished a 16-point Illinois State advantage. NIU again answered, this time with a 6-2 run to pull within 56-44. Alexis Jenkins scored a three-point basket to end ISU's brief drought. Broadway followed with a pair of field goals to build a 63-48 lead midway through the second half. The Redbirds proceeded to build a 19-point lead - their largest of the game - to ultimately win, 81-62.
Illinois State remains at home for another non-conference game Monday, Nov. 28 against Illinois-Chicago. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., and tickets can be purchased by calling (309) 438-8000, or by visiting GoRedbirds.com.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
