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Sophomore forward Ashleen Bracey recorded her fifth double-double,
her first in the last seven games, with 15 points and a career-high
15 rebounds. She tied her career highs with seven offensive and
eight defensive rebounds to corral the most rebounds by a Redbird
since Holly Hallstrom had 18 rebounds against Bradley on Feb. 12,
2006. Bracey also made a career-best seven free throws. Junior
guard Kristi Cirone led the Redbirds with 19 points, including an
8-for-8 performance from the free-throw line, and five assists.
Sophomore center Nicolle Lewis added 11 points and six rebounds for
the Redbirds, who outrebounded UNI 43-31.
"We expected a tough, hard-nosed game from Northern Iowa, a team
that has improved with every game this season," said head coach
Robin Pingeton. "We were able to get to the free-throw line in the
first half, when we weren't shooting very well, and we shot better
in the second half. Our defense didn't have the intensity it need in
the second half. When it comes down to it, we gave up too many
3-point shots to a team that shoots the ball very well from the
outside, and we didn't defend well enough."
The Redbirds suffered through their worst shooting performance of
the season, making a season-low 19 field goals in 59 attempts for a
season-low 32.2 field goal percentage. ISU also had a season-low 11
assists but picked up a season-best eight blocked shots.
The Redbirds made their first two shots from the field, as Lewis
made a jumper from just outside the key and senior guard Tiffany
Hudson canned a 3-pointer from the left corner to take a 5-0 lead in
the first minute of play. After that, ISU struggled from the field,
shooting 2-for-19 over the next 12 minutes, including a four-minute
stretch without a field goal. The Panthers capitalized on the
Redbirds' poor shooting with an 18-4 run to take an 18-9 lead with
9:19 remaining in the half.
ISU managed to cut the lead down to four points, 18-18, but UNI
connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to take its first double-digit
lead of the game, 24-14, at the 5:38 mark. Illinois State closed out
the half with a 10-2 run to pull within a basket at intermission,
28-26.
The Redbirds' 28 points was their second-lowest total in a half
all season, and their 23.5 field goal percentage (8-for-34) was
their lowest. Bracey and Cirone each had two field goals, and they
were the only Redbirds with multiple field goals in the period. ISU
was 9-for-10 from the free-throw line, with Bracey contributing five
of those foul shots.
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The Panthers scored eight straight points in the first 1:30 of
the second half to extend their lead to 35-26. Cirone and Lewis then
scored five points each during a 12-4 run that pulled the Redbirds
within one, 39-38. After the two teams traded baskets, Bracey made a
pair of free throws to tie the game at 42 with just over 12 minutes
remaining.
Northern Iowa never lost the lead, but seemingly every Panther
basket was answered with one by the Redbirds, and they never trailed
by more than four points. A deep 3-pointer put UNI on top by four,
51-47, with 8:10 left in the game. Cirone scored the next six
Redbird points, and the score was tied for the sixth time, 53-53.
UNI came right back down the court and hit another 3-pointer to
maintain the lead.
Despite letting the Panthers score on three consecutive
possessions, the Redbird offense continued to produce and keep them
in the game. Junior guard Brooke Singleton canned a 3-pointer from
the left side to tie the game again, and Lewis made two free throws
to give ISU its first lead since first minute of the game, 60-58,
with three minutes remaining.
After UNI tied the game with a layup at 2:02, Cirone kept the
'Birds ahead with a jumper in the lane at the 48-second mark. On the
ensuing Northern Iowa possession, guard Nicole Clausen came free at
the top of the key and made a 3-pointer to give the Panthers back
the lead, 63-62. The Redbirds had three looks on their next
possession but could not connect on any of them. UNI forward Erin
Brocka was fouled going for the rebound and went to the line with
six seconds left. She made the first but missed the second, and
Cirone came racing down the floor for a final shot but could not get
her leaning layup to go as the clock expired.
The Redbirds host Bradley on Sunday at 2:05 p.m.
[Text from file received from
Jimmy Knodel,
assistant media relations director,
Illinois
State University]
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