March 11, 2011
Box Score
Post-Game Interview
ST. CHARLES, Mo. -
Indiana State avenged a 37-point loss to Illinois State in last year's State Farm MVC Tournament with a 29-point win Friday night. The Sycamores dealt the Redbirds their third-worst loss in an MVC Tournament game, 80-51, in the quarterfinals at the Family Arena. ISU's record drops to 20-10 on the season.
The 29-point loss was the third-largest margin of defeat for Illinois State in 35 all-time games, behind only 31-point losses in 1993 and 1994. The Redbirds shot 30.9 percent from the field and just 10 percent (2-20) from three-point range. Emily Hanley led ISU with 15 points and had six rebounds. Shala Jackson added nine points and two assists. Kenyatta Shelton had team-highs of eight rebounds and two blocks.
Indiana State made just two more field goals than Illinois State, but shot 11-for-19 from three-point range and 23-for-28 at the free throw line. Four Sycamores scored in double-figures, led by Deja Mattox's 22 points and Taylor Whitley's 21 points. The duo was 5-for-8 on three-pointers.
Illinois State started the game shooting just 1-for-9 from the field, allowing Indiana State to build a 10-2 lead. Jackson made only one of her five field goal attempts, but did have ISU's only score after two-straight offensive rebounds. Indiana State made three-three-pointers and converted a three-point play on the fastbreak to double up the Redbirds, 16-8, at the 11:17 mark.
A three by Taylor Whitley in transition capped eight-straight points for the Sycamores that put them ahead, 21-8. The Redbird offense continued to struggle, as they were getting good looks, but shots continuously bounced out. Indiana State closed the half with a 9-2 run, capped by Whitley's three-pointer right before the buzzer, to double the Redbirds up again, 38-19.
The Redbirds were held to their lowest scoring half of the season on just 22.2 percent shooting (8-36). Seven of those field goals came in the paint and ISU was 0-for-11 from three-point range. Hanley led ISU with 11 points, Jackson had six, and Marley Hall had the other score.
The Redbirds apparently found their offense in the locker room at halftime, scoring on the first six possessions of the second half to pull within 10, 43-33. Hannah Spanich knocked down ISU's first three-pointer right out of the gate and made a fastbreak layup to cap the 14-5 run.
The run ended there, as Indiana State responded with 11-straight points in a four-minute span to rebuild a commanding 55-33 lead just under the 12-minute mark. ISU missed seven-consecutive shots before a jumper by Shelton snapped the scoring drought at nearly six minutes. Indiana State continued to pour it on, using a 12-2 run to extend the lead to 67-38 with 7:39 remaining. After making the first six shots of the second half, Illinois State suffered through a 2-for-14 spell over nine minutes.
Indiana State stayed up by at least 20 the rest of the way, with the lead pushing past 30 twice.
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