Lady Bears' long day ends with 86-77 overtime loss
February 21, 2008 | Women's Basketball
Phillips and Rudolphi combined for 14 points in the overtime period, as ISU went 4-of-5 from the field and 9-of-10 from the foul line while limiting MSU to just 25 percent shooting. Rudolphi finished the night 12-of-18 from the floor to lead five Sycamores in double figures.
Missouri State, which began the day with a nine hour bus ride from Springfield to Terre Haute after its chartered flight was scrapped due to inclement weather, shook off the long haul with a strong start to the contest. The Lady Bears outscored ISU 18-5 to build an early double-digit advantage, hitting eight of their first 12 field goal attempts to take a 17-9 lead on a Brown three-pointer with 12:53 left in the first half. MSU then grabbed its largest lead of the night at 24-11 on another Brown basket with 10:21 to go in the period.
But the Sycamores responded with a 19-3 burst over a three and-a-half minute span to claim its first lead of the contest. Kelsey Luna knocked down two of her three first-half treys during the run, the last of which gave ISU a 30-27 advantage at the 6:30 mark. Rudolphi also came up big for the home team in the first half, converting 7-of-10 field goal attempts to finish with 16 points at the break to help the Sycamores take a 41-35 lead into the lockerroom. Indiana State outscored MSU 30-11 to close the half and shot 47 percent overall from the floor in the opening period, while the Lady Bears cooled to 41 percent (14-of-34) for the half after starting 12-of-19 (.632).
After MSU scored 10 of the first 12 points of the second half to reclaim a two-point lead, Indiana State reeled off six straight points to vault back in front. Kelsie Cooley buried two free throws, then Maria Olsthoorn scored on back-to-back possessions to put ISU back on top, 49-45.
Brown came up with the next five points, giving the Lady Bears a one-point lead with her third three-pointer of the game with 12:25 left in regulation. After a Kara Schilli layup put the Sycamores back up 51-50, it was Coppage’s turn to take the reins. The junior guard buried her fourth triple of the game with 11:17 to go, then scored on a putback on MSU’s next possession to stretch the Lady Bear advantage to four points.
Indiana State swung the momentum with an 11-0 run to turn that deficit into a 62-55 lead with just under six minutes left in the ballgame. MSU came right back, pulling even at 66-66 on Tiff Terwelp’s 15-footer with 0:40 left on the clock. A pair of free throws by Brown gave the Lady Bears a two-point lead with 12.5 seconds to play, but Phillips drive to the basket netted a foul and the senior guard sank both throws to pull ISU even. Missouri State had one last shot for the win, but Tahnee Balerio’s 24-foot jumper from the top of the key was off the mark at the buzzer.
The Sycamores improved to 11-12 overall and 5-8 in the Valley, while MSU fell to 9-15 on the season and 7-7 in conference play.
Missouri State will play its final road game of the season Sunday (Feb. 25) when it squares off against the MVC-leading Illinois State Redbirds in a 1:05 p.m. contest at Redbird Arena in Normal, Ill.
