CHARLESTON, Ill. – Illinois State outscored Eastern Illinois women's basketball 22-4 in the first six minutes of the second half, blowing open a game that was tied at halftime on the way to defeating the Panthers, 82-66, Tuesday evening at Lantz Arena.

The Redbirds (6-3) shot 54 percent from the field and 13-of-15 at the free throw line in the second half. Six of ISU's 16 missed shots in the final 20 minutes were from 3-point land.

 

Illinois State's Maggie Krick led all scorers with 21 points, registering 17 in the second half. Ashleen Bracey (18 points), Shala Jackson (14) and Hannah Spanich (12) also scored in double figures. Jackson was a perfect 6-of-6 from the field.

Dominique Sims led EIU (5-7) with 19 points, matching her career high, on 8-of-12 shooting from the field. Ta'Kenya Nixon added 11. For the second game in a row and fifth time this season, every Panther that saw action scored.

Eastern only committed nine turnovers but got out-rebounded 46-31. The Panthers have lost three straight games and have been out-rebounded in five consecutive contests. Illinois State has won a season-high three straight games.

 

Both teams dealt with foul trouble and saw their starting 5-players, Maggie Kloak and Nicolle Lewis, foul out. The starting point guards, Nixon and Amanda Clifton, each finished the game with four fouls.

 

“I give them a lot of credit; they took our best shot in the first half,” EIU head coach Brady Sallee said. “We had them in foul trouble and we were in it a little bit ourselves. We played probably a little bit tougher than they did in the first half. I'm sure [ISU head coach Robin Pingeton] challenged them in the second half. They elevated their play. We went through a drought where we couldn't make some shots and keep up with them. It made it tough. They put that game away coming out of the locker room.”

 

Lewis went to the bench with her fourth foul at the at the 17:44 mark after getting whistled for a pair early in the second half. However, the Redbirds still managed to outscore EIU 14-1 over the next four minutes. Krick accounted for eight of the 14 points.

 

Ashley Thomas connected on a jump shot on the first possession of the second half, but the Panthers didn't score again from the field for six minutes. It was during that span that ISU put together its 22-4 run.

 

Eastern would get no closer than 14 down the rest of the game. Kloak connected on the second of back-to-back baskets in the lane at the 6:40 mark, making it a 67-53 score. But ISU answered with an 8-2 spurt to push its lead back to 20.

 

The first half featured eight ties and four lead changes. Eastern led by four on four occasions, the biggest advantage for either team. Bracey and Katie Broadway both connected on 3-pointers to prevent EIU from extending those leads.

 

Jackson and Spanich later hit 3-pointers during a 7-0 spurt that gave ISU a 26-23 lead with two minutes remaining. Nixon responded with a triple for the Panthers, leading to the first of three tie scores in the final two minutes of the first half.

 

Illinois State scored 52 of its 82 points in the second half. The Redbirds' 82 points represent the most by a visiting team in a 40-minute game at Lantz Arena since Indiana State scored 85 on Nov. 29, 2007. The Sycamores were also the last visiting team to post a 50-point half at Lantz.

The Panthers have lost three straight games for the first time since beginning their breakthrough 2007-08 season with an 0-7 record. Eastern is slated to have seven days off before returning to action Wednesday, Dec. 30 for a 6 p.m. (CDT) game at Miami (Ohio).

More Info: Contact Ben Turner, Asst. SID