Thursday, January 20
Normal, Ill.
7:05 PM
Creighton University
57
at
70
Illinois State
Redbirds Fly by Bluejays 70-57 in Women's Basketball
1/20/2011 9:41:00 PM | Women's Basketball
NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State improved to 8-0 at home this season with a 70-57 win over the Creighton women's basketball team Thursday night at Redbird Arena. Freshman Sarah Nelson scored a career-high 17 points, tying Kelsey Woodard for team-high honors, but it wasn't enough to overcome a poor three-point shooting night for the Bluejays. Creighton went 0-for-5 from beyond the arc in the first half and finished 4-for-15 from three-point range in defeat.
The win snapped Illinois State's three-game losing streak and marked its 10th straight home conference win as ISU improved to 11-6 overall and 3-3 in Missouri Valley Conference action. The loss was CU's first on the MVC road this season, falling to 10-7 on the season and 4-2 in conference play.
Creighton's only lead of the game came in the first minute when Carli Tritz scored what proved to be her only basket of the night to put the Jays ahead 2-0. From there, the Redbirds took control of the game, opening a double-digit lead less than eight minutes into the game. Illinois State led by as many as 13 in the first half, as the Bluejay offense never got on track. The Jays scored the final four points of the half to make the halftime score 27-18 in favor of the home team.
The Bluejays shot just 9-of-29 (.310) from the field in the first half, as their 18 points marked their lowest scoring half of the season. Creighton went 0-for-5 from three-point range and didn't attempt a free throw in the first half. ISU went 3-for-6 from three-point range in building its halftime lead.
Creighton made the first basket of the second half to get within seven points, but would not get that close again unitl 6:52 remained. Down 45-34, the Bluejays rattled off six straight points including back-to-back baskets from Sarah Nelson which made the score 45-40 with 6:44 to play. Katie Broadway answered the Creighton run however, draining an open three-pointer on ISU's next trip down the floor. After Woodard countered with a jumper, Broadway again found herself open for her fourth three-pointer of the night on ISU's next possession and ISU was back up 51-42 with 5:34 left.
Illinois State would lead by as many as 14 down the stretch as Creighton could never get closer than eight points over the final five minutes of the game.
Hanley led all players with 21 points and tied Hannah Spanich for game-high honors with eight rebounds, as the Redbirds out-rebounded the Bluejays 37-26 in the game. Broadway finished 4-for-4 from three-point range and had 16 points off the bench, while Shala Jackson added 10 points in her first start of the year.
Sarah Nelson scored 15 of her 17 points in the second half, making 7-of-10 field goals and 2-of-3 three-pointers in just 14 minutes of play. The rookie also topped the team with five rebounds, as CU tied its season-low with 26 boards. Woodard scored 13 of her 17 points in the second half, including a 4-for-4 night at the free throw line. Kellie Nelson chipped in eight points and three blocks for the Jays.
Creighton will look to bounce back from its first MVC road loss of the year when it plays at Indiana State (9-8, 3-3 MVC) on Saturday at 1 p.m. (CST).
NOTES: Illinois State was the first MVC team this year to score more than 58 points against Creighton ... CU had held MVC opponents under 59 points in eight straight conference regular-season games dating back to last season ... ISU is 8-0 at home this year and 56-12 at Redbird Arena over the past four years ... ISU avoided its first four-game losing streak since 2006 with the win ... Sarah Nelson's previous career-high was 14 point at North Carolina State on Nov. 13.
The win snapped Illinois State's three-game losing streak and marked its 10th straight home conference win as ISU improved to 11-6 overall and 3-3 in Missouri Valley Conference action. The loss was CU's first on the MVC road this season, falling to 10-7 on the season and 4-2 in conference play.
Creighton's only lead of the game came in the first minute when Carli Tritz scored what proved to be her only basket of the night to put the Jays ahead 2-0. From there, the Redbirds took control of the game, opening a double-digit lead less than eight minutes into the game. Illinois State led by as many as 13 in the first half, as the Bluejay offense never got on track. The Jays scored the final four points of the half to make the halftime score 27-18 in favor of the home team.
The Bluejays shot just 9-of-29 (.310) from the field in the first half, as their 18 points marked their lowest scoring half of the season. Creighton went 0-for-5 from three-point range and didn't attempt a free throw in the first half. ISU went 3-for-6 from three-point range in building its halftime lead.
Creighton made the first basket of the second half to get within seven points, but would not get that close again unitl 6:52 remained. Down 45-34, the Bluejays rattled off six straight points including back-to-back baskets from Sarah Nelson which made the score 45-40 with 6:44 to play. Katie Broadway answered the Creighton run however, draining an open three-pointer on ISU's next trip down the floor. After Woodard countered with a jumper, Broadway again found herself open for her fourth three-pointer of the night on ISU's next possession and ISU was back up 51-42 with 5:34 left.
Illinois State would lead by as many as 14 down the stretch as Creighton could never get closer than eight points over the final five minutes of the game.
Hanley led all players with 21 points and tied Hannah Spanich for game-high honors with eight rebounds, as the Redbirds out-rebounded the Bluejays 37-26 in the game. Broadway finished 4-for-4 from three-point range and had 16 points off the bench, while Shala Jackson added 10 points in her first start of the year.
Sarah Nelson scored 15 of her 17 points in the second half, making 7-of-10 field goals and 2-of-3 three-pointers in just 14 minutes of play. The rookie also topped the team with five rebounds, as CU tied its season-low with 26 boards. Woodard scored 13 of her 17 points in the second half, including a 4-for-4 night at the free throw line. Kellie Nelson chipped in eight points and three blocks for the Jays.
Creighton will look to bounce back from its first MVC road loss of the year when it plays at Indiana State (9-8, 3-3 MVC) on Saturday at 1 p.m. (CST).
NOTES: Illinois State was the first MVC team this year to score more than 58 points against Creighton ... CU had held MVC opponents under 59 points in eight straight conference regular-season games dating back to last season ... ISU is 8-0 at home this year and 56-12 at Redbird Arena over the past four years ... ISU avoided its first four-game losing streak since 2006 with the win ... Sarah Nelson's previous career-high was 14 point at North Carolina State on Nov. 13.
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