Category: SportsScroresInfo

In a game where both teams struggled shooting the ball it was the defense that propelled ISU Women’s Basketball Team to victory over the Bradley Braves. This is the first time in four years that the Redbirds were able to advance past the quarter finals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.

The Braves took an early 10-8 lead and eventually went up 15-9 as ISU went almost 6 minutes without a basket. Janae Smith carried the Redbirds early on with six quick points before a crucial time out. With about 10 minutes left in the first half Head Coach Stephanie Glance called a timeout that seemed to spark the redbirds as the preceded to go on a 17-1 run to end the half leading by 10.

In the second half Jamie Russell traded baskets with Katie Yohn of the Braves as the two players finally found their shooting stroke. The two teams went back and forth with the Redbirds maintaining a comfortable lead until the final minutes of the game.

Bradley finally found a way to slow down Russell and the Birds as they got to within two points with about two minutes left. However, as the Birds have done all season, they locked down defensively and forced the Braves into tough shots that just wouldn’t fall. Bradley was forced to foul down the stretch which allowed the birds to build the lead back up and win by the final score of 59-48.

NORMAL—The Illinois State Redbird women’s basketball team (4-2) was looking to continue their three game winning streak, when they welcomed the Michigan Wolverines to Doug Collins Court. The Wolverines came into the game with a record of 6-2 and a 3-0 record against ISU in a short history between the two teams. Janae Smith led the Redbirds with 11 points and seven rebounds, but that wasn’t enough to continue their winning streak. After coming out strong in both halves, the Wolverines three point shooting was too much for the Redbirds to handle and they fell to the Wolverines 56-45.

Early in the first half, the Redbird defense was up to the challenge against a much bigger Wolverine team causing five turnovers in the first five minutes of the game. Trying to match a tough defensive effort, the Redbirds struggled from the field halfway through the first half after a quick start.  Michigan’s height showed early in the game, doubling up the Redbirds rebound total, 15-7. The Redbirds struggled from three-point line in the first half going 3-11 beyond the arc.  Smith led the Redbirds offensively in the first half shooting 50 percent from the field with six points and four rebounds. The Redbirds ended the first half on a 10-2 run to cut the Wolverines lead to two heading into halftime with the score 23-21.

The Redbirds came out of halftime on fire with an 8-2 run early, but Michigan was able to quiet the Redbirds answering with a 9-0 run of their own, regaining the lead. Michigan’s leading scorer, Kate Thompson, was a tough matchup for the Redbirds to handle with 18 points and shooting under 50 percent from the field including 4-9 from behind the arc in the game. The Redbirds had a hard time drawing any fouls all game leading to only cashing in one time out of four trips to the charity stripe late into the second half. A five-minute scoring drought late in the game for the Redbirds let the Wolverines build an 11-point lead that they would not surrender as they would knock down a couple of late free throws to seal the 56-45 victory.

The Redbirds are back in action on Friday December 7^th when they finish their Big Ten filled week with a matchup with the Northwestern Wildcats at Redbird Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:05 P.M.  Live coverage can be heard on 103.3 WZND or WZND.com.

Tonight the two winningest college-basketball programs, Kansas and Kentucky, will collide together to play each other for the National Championship.

From a coaching perspective, this is a rematch of the 2008 national championship game. Kansas coach Bill Self was the victor over, then Memphis coach, John Calipari in a thrilling 75-68 overtime victory to collect his first national championship. That game saw, Chicao native, Mario Chalmers hit a game-tying three to send the game in to OT. It also featured Chicago’s Derrick Rose missing key free throws late and allowing Chalmers and the Jay-Hawks to stay alive and eventually win the game.

Now with Kentucky, Calipari will look to redeem himself and lead his highly favored Wildcats to their first national championship in over 14 years. Freshman-phenom Anthony Davis, another Chicago native, will look to finish his terrific season and award filled year with the biggest award of them all, a national title.

This much anticipated match-up between Kansas and Kentucky will tip-off at 8:23 p.m.

NORMAL, Ill- After a fast start in the first quarter, Illinois State was able to  come out on top against South Dakota State Saturday night at Hancock Stadium 20-13.  Illinois State improves to 2-2 on the season and 1-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference.  With the loss, South Dakota State falls to 1-3 on the season overall, and 0-1 in conference play.

After stopping the Jackrabbits on their first drive, the Redbirds put themselves on the board first with a rushing touchdown for four yards from Senior running back Ashton Leggett.  The extra point was blocked giving the Redbirds a 6-0 lead.

The Redbirds threatened inside the Jackrabbits’ one yard line while time was expiring in the first quarter.  They started out the second quarter with a quick rushing touchdown from Leggett, his second on the night.  That gave ISU the 13-0 lead in the second quarter.  Leggett finished the night with 29 carries for 98 yards and the two scores.

The Jackrabbits’ scored their first touchdown after a dropped pass behind the line of scrimmage from Matt Brown to Leggett was dropped and considered a fumble.  Linebacker Mike Lien picked up the ball and ran it back 40 yards for a touchdown.  The extra point was blocked by ISU to make the score 13-6 in the second quarter.  Neither team scored for the remainder of the first half.

The Redbirds opened the second half with a drive down the field which ultimately ended with a 29 yard touchdown pass from Matt Brown to Tyrone Walker, with the extra point good and the 20-6 lead for ISU in the third quarter.  Brown was 22-34 for 214 yards and one touchdown which was credited to Walker.  Walker finished the night with 10 catches for 143 yards and a touchdown.

South Dakota State’s only offensive touchdown came on a one yard scramble into the end zone from Redshirt Freshmen quarterback Austin Sumner, who finished with 194 passing yards.  The score was 20-13 after Sumner’s touchdown run.  The Jackrabbits were pushing for another score late in the fourth quarter, but the Redbirds’ defense was able to make a game-changing stop on the goal line, which resulted in a turnover on downs for South Dakota State.

Brown took a knee for the Redbirds to run out the clock and capture the win.

Illinois State will travel to Fargo, North Dakota next Saturday at 1 p.m. against North Dakota State for another Missouri Valley Conference matchup.

NORMAL– The 2011 Illinois State Football team (1-1) topped the Morehead State Eagles (1-1) Saturday night at Hancock Stadium 52-21 in the Redbirds 2011 season home opener.  Matt Brown was successful for touchdowns with three different receivers, as the Illinois State defense did not allow any points until the 3^rd quarter.

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3-game series vs. Indiana State

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