Jan. 29, 2012
Statistics 
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Katie Broadwayscored 19 points and led a 21-0 run for the Redbirds in the first half, but a strong offensive second half by Missouri State was too much for the Illinois State women's basketball team, as the Redbirds fell, 83-68, Sunday in JQH Arena.
Jamie Russell netted 18 points, while Candace Sykes added 15 points and Marley Hallhad 11. It was the second-straight game where four Redbird players recorded double-digit performances. Sykes brought down 11 rebounds, marking her second-straight double-double. Missouri State had a slight advantage on the boards, 40-39. The Redbirds (11-9, 6-3 MVC) shot 42 percent from the field, while the Lady Bears (13-6, 6-3 MVC) hit 47 percent of their shots.
Illinois State scored in its first possession of the game, but didn't hit a field goal for the next two minutes, as Missouri State went on a 9-1 run, jumping out to an 11-3 lead with 16:42 left in the first half. After a Redbird timeout, ISU went on a 21-0 run with 7:44 remaining in the half, 24-11, as MSU missed 14-consecutive shots and was scoreless for over nine minutes during the run. Broadway led the run with 11 points for the Redbirds, including three shots from beyond the arc.
After taking a 13-point lead, the Lady Bears hit a three to get back within single digits, 29-20, with 3:47 left before intermission. Missouri State went on a 5-0 run to get within seven points, 29-22, with 2:23 left before the half, as Illinois State didn't make a field goal for over three minutes. MSU hit back-to-back buckets to get within six points, but a basket at the buzzer by Broadway gave the Redbirds an eight-point lead, 35-27, heading into the locker room.
At the half, Broadway led all scorers with 16 points and brought down four rebounds. Alexis Jenkins also grabbed four rebounds, while Sykes, Broadway and Jenkins each had two steals. Missouri State brought down more boards, 21-19, while ISU shot 48 percent from the field with MSU making 35 percent of its shots.
Three shots from three-point land got Missouri State within five points of Illinois State, 42-38, with 16:40 left in the game. The Lady Bears hit a three-pointer to get within a point, but Sykes answered with a four-point play of her own, hitting a trey from the corner, while getting fouled. Sykes successfully hit the free throw to increase ISU's lead to five, 46-41, with 14:51.
The Lady Bears got the lead back with 11-straight points, 60-53, with 9:56 left in the game thanks to back-to-back three pointers by MSU. Missouri State continued to hit shots from the field and finished the second half shooting 59 percent and scoring 56 points in the half. The offensive threat was more than ISU could handle, as Illinois State fell 83-68
The Redbirds will return to Redbird Arena for a three-game homestand, starting with Indiana State Friday at 7:05 p.m.
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