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Halftime Report: Redbirds Battle it Out with Salukis for One-Point Deficit, 34-33

Sophomore center Nicole Lewis led all ISU scorers with 12 points in the first half

	Sophomore center Nicole Lewis

March 6, 2008

NORMAL, Ill. - A hot shooting hand from sophomore center Nicole Lewis, who scored 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting, has led the Illinois State women's basketball team to just a one-point halftime deficit against Missouri Valley Conference foe Southern Illinois Thursday night, as the Salukis lead, 34-33, at the intermission on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.

Lewis' 12 points led all Redbird scores, as Illinois State was also helped offensively by six points apiece from Kenyatta Shelton and Shala Jackson.

The Salukis were led in scoring in the half by Ellen Young and Jaymee Sweere, both of whom scored 12 points, including a perfect 2-for-2 effort from three-point range by Yung.

After both teams exchanged turnovers to start the game, Lewis got the Redbirds on the board first with a layup at the 18:30 mark of the first half. Southern Illinois then answered back with a 12-2 run to take a 12-4 lead just after the first media timeout (15:47). Two-straight baskets by the Redbirds, including a layup by Jackson, cut the Saluki lead down to just four points (12-8), and then after the Salukis pushed their lead to 18-15, junior guard Kristi Cirone took control of the Redbird offense with a layup and a key three-pointer to give the Redbirds their first lead of the game, 21-20 at the third media timeout (7:42).

The Salukis continued to put the pressure on the Redbird defense, as following the third media timeout, SIU regained the lead, 27-23, as Sweere poured in two-straight layups. Just as she did to start the game, Lewis kept the Redbirds in the hunt for the lead, as she made a turnaround jumper near the five-minute mark of the half to cut SIU's lead to just two points (27-25). An ensuing jumper by sophomore guard Maggie Krick tied the game (27-27) and forced the Salukis into a timeout.

The half ended on a high note for Illinois State, as Jackson secured a steal from the Salukis and then went the distance of the court for a layup to cut the SIU lead down to one point (34-33), ISU's smallest halftime deficit of the season.

GoRedbirds.com will provide complete postgame coverage of the Illinois State-Southern Illinois women's basketball game, including a postgame recap, game highlights and final statistics, at the conclusion of the game.