March 6, 2014
Final Stats
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -
Octavia Crump netted 17 points, including a perfect 5-of-5 showing at the free throw line, but her effort wasn't enough, as the Illinois State (9-18, 8-9 MVC) women's basketball team fell to Missouri Valley Conference rival Northern Iowa (17-11, 13-4 MVC), 89-70, Thursday at the McLeod Center thanks to UNI's 54 percent shooting performance. The Panthers' 89 points were the most scored by a Redbird opponent this season.
Chloe Nelson was the only other Redbird to score in double figures, as she had 15 points. Like Crump, Nelson was also perfect at the free throw line, going 9-of-9 from the charity stripe. Katy Winge added nine points, shooting 4-of-6 from the field, while ISU connected on 34 percent of its shot attempts from the field. ISU outrebounded UNI by three, as the Redbirds grabbed 39 boards. Lindsay Smith and Crump both recorded eight rebounds, which was a career-high performance for Smith. Illinois State only committed eight turnovers, the fewest miscues by ISU this season.
"We stayed with our game plan and played well the first half," head coach Barb Smith said. "We didn't stick with what we were trying to do and gave up too many threes and free throws. We couldn't keep them from what they like to do."
Crump successfully completed the and-one play, after hitting a layup and drawing the foul, to tie the game, 9-9, ending a nearly three minute scoring drought for the Redbirds. Then, back-to-back threes by the Panthers, increased UNI's lead to five, 17-12, at the 12:44 mark of the first half. Crump continued to keep the offense going, as she scored four-straight points for ISU pulling the Redbirds within three, 19-16, with 10:12 remaining before the half.
Winge connected on back-to-back jumpers, getting Illinois State within four points, but two-straight shots from three-point range increased UNI's lead to 10 points, 30-20, at the 6:29 mark. Four-straight free throws by the Panthers lengthened UNI's lead to 11 points, 36-25, with 4:33 left on the clock in the first half. The 11-point lead was the largest lead for the Panthers in the first half. Winge netted four-straight points to pull ISU within seven, 42-35, at the half.
In the first half, ISU was led by Crump, who scored 11 points, while Winge added nine. Illinois State sank 38 percent of its shot attempts, while Northern Iowa connected on 50 percent of its shots. Smith and ISU controlled the boards, as the Redbirds pulled down 20 rebounds, two more than the Panthers. Smith grabbed four boards, including an offensive rebound, in the opening half.
Smith hit a three in the corner to cut the Panthers' advantage to 10 points, but UNI answered with a three of its own, 60-47, with 14 minutes remaining in the contest. Then, ISU couldn't connect on a field goal for nearly four minutes, while UNI went on an 8-2 run to take a 68-49 lead with 10:46 to play. Crump netted six-straight points to cut Northern Iowa's lead, 70-55, with 8:57 to play.
With just under five minutes remaining in the game, Nelson sank five-straight points, including three shots from the charity stripe, to keep Illinois State in the contest, 80-64. The deficit proved to be too much, as Northern Iowa ended the game with a 9-6 advantage and Illinois State couldn't answer and fell, 89-70.
ISU travels to Drake for the regular-season finale Saturday at the Knapp Center. Tip is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.
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