March 17, 2011
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NORMAL, Ill. -
Illinois State advanced to the second round of the WNIT for the third-consecutive year Thursday night as the Redbirds beat Central Michigan, 72-59, on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena. ISU (21-10) remained undefeated at home in 2011, extending its home-court win streak to a program-best 15 consecutive games.
The Redbirds will travel to Madison, Wis., Sunday at 1 p.m., for a second-round WNIT matchup against the Badgers. ISU has played in the WNIT during four of the last five years, winning its opening game each time.
ISU's defense held Central Michigan to its second-lowest point total of the season, forcing the Chippewas to commit 23 turnovers. Illinois State also teamed up to block eight shots, which tied for the second-most blocks by the Redbirds in a WNIT game. ISU shot 48 percent from the field, while Central Michigan shot 29 percent.
Kenyatta Shelton led Illinois State with a 10-point, 14-rebound double-double. Shelton has now grabbed 12 or more rebounds in three of the four WNIT games she has played in. Additionally, Shelton blocked four shots, which tied for the second-most blocks in a Redbird WNIT game. Shelton was also credited with four blocks against Rice in 2007. Shala Jackson was ISU's top scorer, netting 19 points, while Katie Broadway scored 18.
After Central Michigan jumped out to an early 4-3 lead, Shelton put the Redbirds in front, turning defense into offense by blocking a Chippewa shot and scoring a layup on the other end of the floor. The Redbirds proceeded to outscore the Chippewas 11-4, giving ISU a 16-8 lead with 13:11 to play in the first half. Central Michigan responded with an 8-2 run to pull within four points at 20-16. ISU answered with a 7-2 run consisting of two Broadway buckets and a field goal by Marley Hall.
The Redbirds proceeded to match their largest lead of the first half on a jumper by Emily Hanley, giving ISU a 35-23 advantage with nine seconds to play. However, Central Michigan scored two points on a pair of Taylor Johnson free throws in the final seconds of the first half to pull within 35-25 at the intermission. Illinois State forced the Chippewas to commit 16 first-half turnovers, while the Redbirds shot 50 percent from the field. Shelton led ISU's first-half effort with nine points and six rebounds.
CMU pulled within 35-27, but the Redbirds put together another run, this time outscoring Central Michigan, 11-3, to take a 16-point lead. Jackson scored seven points during the stretch, and the Fort Wayne, Ind., native proceeded to build ISU's largest lead of the game as she was fouled on a made layup, converting the three-point-play with a free throw to put the Redbirds in front, 59-37, with 6:53 to play. ISU outscored Central Michigan 37-24 in the second half to secure the victory.
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