March 14, 2014
Final Stats
ST. CHARLES, Mo. -
After an explosive second-half shooting effort of 55 percent from the field, the No. 6 Illinois State women's basketball team (10-19, 8-10 MVC) upset No. 3 Northern Iowa (17-13, 13-5 MVC), 65-63, in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Quarterfinal Round Friday at the Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo. The Redbirds were led by Chloe Nelson, who scored 25 points, including the winning shot. The 25 points were one shy of Nelson's career high.
Katy Winge was the only other Redbird to score in double figures, netting 14 points. The Redbirds shot 47 percent from the field, sinking 28-of-60 attempts from the field, in addition to hitting 22 percent of shots behind the arc, and the Panthers shot 39 percent from the field. A total of 28 rebounds were secured by the team with Lindsay Smith pulling down six of her own. Northern Iowa outrebounded ISU by 12 boards grabbing 40. Illinois State also recorded a season-low six turnovers to cap off the team's impressive performance.
The two teams went back and forth to open the game, until ISU scored four-straight points to take a 13-11 lead with 12:26 remaining in the first. Nelson had six of Illinois State's first 13 points. The Redbirds and the Panthers continued to exchange baskets, as there were five ties and six lead changes in the first nine minutes of the game. Then, momentum shifted to Illinois State's advantage, as it netted seven-straight points, 22-15, and held Northern Iowa scoreless for nearly four minutes. The seven-point lead was the largest for ISU in the half, and three Redbirds scored during the run.
UNI used a 15-2 run to regain the lead, 30-24, with 2:30 left before the break. Five free throws and four jumpers, including two three pointers, gave momentum back to Northern Iowa. ISU couldn't connect from the field for four minutes, but then Kalyn Gebhardt sank a short jumper to get the Redbirds back within four, 30-26. The Panthers ended the half with a 5-2 run, as they took the lead into the locker room, 35-28, their largest of the half.
At the half, ISU was led by Nelson, who had eight points, while Octavia Crump and Winge both added four. The Redbirds shot 38 percent from the field, while UNI connected on 41 percent of its shot attempts. The Panthers also had the advantage on the boards, pulling down 20 rebounds compared to ISU's 16. Northern Iowa had two steals, while Illinois State had none.
ISU and UNI both scored early in the second half, before both teams ran into small scoring droughts. Winge gave life back to the Redbirds, as she scored eight-straight points for ISU, pulling Illinois State within one, 39-38, with 14:46 to play. The Panthers were scoreless for over five minutes, as they missed 10-straight shot attempts.
A jumper by Nelson and a pair of free throws by Alexis Foley gave a one-point lead, 42-41, back to ISU. Nelson sank two jumpers to give the Redbirds a five-point advantage, 54-49, with six minutes remaining in the game. Then, the momentum favored Northern Iowa, as it used a 6-0 run to take a one-point lead, 55-54, with five minutes remaining on the clock. The teams traded points during the final minutes of the game, but a jumper by Nelson with time winding down gave the 65-63 victory to ISU.
The No. 6 Redbirds will return to action Saturday afternoon at 4:07 p.m. to take on No. 2 Wichita State in the semifinal round of the MVC Tournament.
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