Feb. 27, 2011
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NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State women's basketball team (19-8, 11-5 MVC) made school history Sunday afternoon, as it became the first team to have an undefeated home record after defeating Southern Illinois (2-25, 0-16 MVC), 87-62, on Doug Collins Court in Redbird Arena. The Redbirds ended the regular season at home with a perfect 14-0 record, which is the most regular-season home wins in school history.
Emily Hanley led all scorers with 24 points, which tied her career-best performance, while Katie Broadway added a career-best 22 points. Both Redbirds set career-bests with their 10 made field goals. Kenyatta Shelton also recorded a double-digit performance, as she scored 10 points and led all rebounders with nine. ISU shot 57 percent from the field, while SIU shot 37 percent.
Southern Illinois used a 9-3 run over three minutes to take its largest lead of the half, 19-14. Broadway gave life back to the Redbirds, as she sank back-to-back shots to tie the game, 19-19, with 9:42 left before the half. Illinois State grabbed a six-point lead with 2:17 left before the break, but SIU's Brooke Lemar made a pair of free throws and a layup to cut ISU's advantage to four, 34-30, heading into the locker room.
Hanley and Broadway combined for 23 of Illinois State's first half points. Hanley tallied 12 points, while Broadway shot 5-of-6 from the field and added 11 points off of the bench.
Southern Illinois got within three points to start the second half, but a driving Alexis Jenkins got a shot off while getting fouled and successfully completed the three-point play to give the Illinois State a 45-38 advantage with 15:27 left in the game. The Redbirds used the play to start a 9-0 run over the next 1:25 to take a 51-38 lead. However, the Salukis would not give up, as they scored nine-straight points to shrink ISU's lead to three, 51-48, with 12:05 to play.
ISU regained momentum and scored 14 points over four minutes compared to SIU's one to jump ahead by 16 points, 65-49, with 8:01 left to play in the contest. The Redbirds' largest lead of the game was 28 points, which came with 33 seconds remaining in the game. Southern Illinois was not able to answer back, and Illinois State ended the regular season perfect at home with the 87-62 win.
Illinois State will travel to Peoria, Ill., Thursday, March 3, to face Bradley at 7:05 p.m.
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