March 8, 2014
Final Stats
DES MOINES, Iowa -
The Illinois State women's basketball team had two shot attempts in the final 11 seconds against Drake, but the Redbirds (9-19, 8-10 MVC) couldn't get either of the shots to fall, and the Bulldogs (15-14, 9-9 MVC) held on to the 67-66 victory Saturday at the Knapp Center. ISU had three players in double figures, as the Redbirds were led by Alexis Foley, who scored 16 points.
Lindsay Smith tied a career-high 15 points with 13 coming in the second half, and Chloe Nelson added 10 points. The Redbirds shot 45 percent from the field, as the Bulldogs connected on 50 percent of their attempts. Illinois State had the advantage on the boards, pulling down 34, which was four more than Drake. Katy Winge led ISU in rebounds, grabbing eight. Illinois State had 17 assists in the game, the second most on the season, as Nelson dished out a career-high seven assists in the contest. The Redbirds also had 34 points in the paint and 17 points off of DU miscues, leading in both categories.
"They did a great job battling back," head coach Barb Smith said. "I didn't think we were ready to go at the beginning of the game. We ended strong, but needed to start that way. In the first half, we weren't talking enough, but in the second half, we were communicating and getting back in transition. We played a much better second half."
ISU was scoreless for the first four minutes of the game, until Smith hit a jumper and ISU got within two points of DU, 6-4. Then, Illinois State's offense warmed up, as the Redbirds went on a 15-3 run, including 12-straight points, to take their first lead of the game, 19-15, with 9:40 left on the clock. During the run, three shots came from beyond the arc with two coming from Mackenzie Freeman.
The two teams traded baskets, but a 6-0 run by the Bulldogs during a three-minute drought by the Redbirds gave the advantage back to Drake, 29-24, with 3:40 remaining before the break. Foley scored four points and Nelson added a jumper to end the half, but their efforts weren't enough, as DU went into the locker room with a six-point lead, 36-30.
At the half, Illinois State shot 41 percent from the field, while Drake netted 58 percent of its shot attempts. The Redbirds were led by Foley, who was perfect from the field, going 4-of-4 for nine points, and Nelson and Freeman both added six points. ISU controlled the boards, pulling down 17 compared to DU's 13. Winge had six rebounds and led the Redbirds on the boards, while Nelson dished out five assists.
Drake came out strong in the second half, as it took a 14-point lead, 48-34, but Illinois State got hot again, as it scored 15-straight points to regain the lead, 49-48, with 11:32 on the clock. Four Redbirds scored during the run, led by Smith with six points. The two teams exchanged baskets until five-straight points by the Bulldogs increased their advantage to six, 59-53, with 9:03 to play.
Illinois State regained momentum and a 7-0 Redbird run tied the game, 62-62, with five minutes left in the contest. Down by one with 1:24 to play, the Redbirds inbounded the ball and found Winge, who made a layup and gave a one-point advantage to ISU, 66-65, with 1:05 on the clock. Then, Drake went the length of the court and got its own layup to regain a one-point lead, 67-66. ISU had two final attempts in the last 11 seconds, but couldn't get either shot to fall and dropped a close one at Drake, 67-66.
With the regular season complete, the Redbirds will travel to St. Charles, Mo., to take part in the 2014 Missouri Valley Conference Championship.
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