Krick Ties Three-Point Record
ISU Routs Missouri State, 95-59

[January 26, 2008]  SPRINGFIELD, Mo -- Sophomore guard Maggie Krick tied the Illinois State record with seven three-pointers as the Illinois State Redbirds (16-1, 6-0 MVC) extended their winning streak to 12 and remained undefeated in conference play with a 95-59 win over Missouri State (6-12, 4-3 MVC) on Friday, Jan. 25. Krick finished with 25 points, just two shy of the career-high she scored against South Florida earlier this season, and a season-high eight rebounds. Illinois State outscored Missouri State 55-19 in the second half, the most points in a half this season, en route to its second 90-point effort in the last three games.

Krick tied the school record set twice by Megan McCracken and had half of ISU’s 14 triples, the third-most in a single game all-time. Junior guard Kristi Cirone had three three-pointers as a part of her 19 points and also added five assists, five steals and four rebounds. Senior guard Tiffany Hudson had her first double-digit scoring effort in the last three games with 14 points to go along with a game-high seven assists. Freshman guard Shala Jackson pulled down a career-high 13 rebounds, her second-consecutive game with double-digit boards and the most rebounds by a Redbird this year.

Illinois State outrebounded Missouri State 55-30 in the game, including a 16-8 advantage on the offensive glass. Their rebounding dominance produced 22 second chance points to just two for the Lady Bears. ISU shot 56.3 percent (18-32) in the second half and held Missouri State to just 16.7 percent (6-36).

Over a span of 12:48, that stretched between the first and second halves, Illinois State outscored Missouri State 39-12 to turn a 10-point deficit into a 17-point advantage. The Redbirds closed out the first half with a 14-4 run and started the second half with a 25-8 run. The 11-point deficit was the third-largest the Redbirds faced all season and the second-largest they erased during a victory. It was just the fourth time this year that ISU trailed by double-digits.

“Maggie Krick came out and played great in the second half,” said head coach Robin Pingeton. “There were a lot of key contributors tonight. Our defense was tremendous tonight and I am so proud of the way we dug in during the second half. Holding a team to 16 percent from the field is not easy. I give a lot of credit to Missouri State. That is the best I have seen them play in all of the tape we have watched on them.”

The game was scoreless through the first three minutes until Hudson made a pair of free throws after she was fouled attempting a fastbreak layup. Missouri State put up its first points when forward Maggie Dwyer drilled a three-pointer from the top of the key on the next possession. After a jumper by Lewis gave ISU its first field goal, the Lady Bears went on a 16-4 run to take their largest lead of the game, 19-8, at the 10:57 mark.

Illinois State started to find its tough from the field as Hudson hit a tough jumper in the lane, Cirone nailed three-straight three-pointers and Lewis put in a layup to cap a 13-2 Redbird run that tied the game at 21 apiece. The Lady Bears answered with a pair of three-pointers of their own and scored 10 points in two minutes to maintain their lead, 31-24.

The Missouri State lead grew to 10, 36-26, after guard Melissa Busby scored five-straight points with a three-pointer and two free throws. The Redbirds battled back again with an 11-2 run over a two minutes pan, courtesy of a pair of three-pointers by Krick and five free throws by Shelton, to pull within one, 38-37.Two free throws by guard Tahnee Balerio put the Lady Bears back on top by three, but on the ensuing possession, Hudson corralled an offensive rebound off her own missed layup and then took a hit a jumper to tie the game, 40-40.

A layup by sophomore forward Ashleen Bracey at the start of the second half gave the Redbirds their first lead since they held a two-point advantage at 16:44 of the first half and started an 11-2 ISU spurt. Hudson scored six points on a three-point play and a three-pointer and Krick canned a trifecta of her own to put the Redbirds on top, 51-43.

Krick made two more three-pointers and a fastbreak jumper to spark a 12-0 run for the Redbirds and extend their lead to double-digits for the first time, 65-48, with 11:34 remaining in the game. Missouri State made just two field goals during the half at that point. Krick canned two more three-pointers during a 24-5 ISU run to close the game and produce the final margin.

The Redbirds visit Wichita State (6-12, 1-6 MVC) on Sunday, Jan. 27, at 2:05 p.m.

[Jimmy Knodel]