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March 16, 2006 INDIANA STATE SOARS PAST EAGLES IN WNIT FIRST ROUND, 79-57 TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – It wasn’t quite the NCAA Tournament, but don’t tell that to over 3,000 Indiana State fans that packed the lower level of Hulman Center and were treated to a convincing 79-57 WNIT First Round victory of MAC-West Champion, Eastern Michigan. ISU improves to 27-5, while the Eagles finish their season with a 22-8 mark. Playing in its third WNIT in the last four years, the Sycamores opened a 38-27 lead at the half and never looked back as they shot over 44% from the field after the break. ISU senior All-America candidate Melanie Boeglin scored 20 points in the contest, hitting 9-of-14 shots, with four assists and seven steals in the game. Her 20 points in the game, gives her 587 for the season, a new Indiana State single-season scoring record. With the win, Indiana State is now 3-4 in WNIT play, including a mark of 2-3 in the Postseason event. Boeglin was joined in double figures scoring by freshman Tiffany Reida, who scored 10 points, by hitting 4-of-6 shots from the field, including a pair of 3-pointers. Reida tied her scoring career-high that was set in the Preseason WNIT against Chattanooga. The Sycamores opened strong by building a quick 4-0 lead, and would never look back in the contest. With Indiana State leading 30-23 at the 4:56 mark of the first half, freshman Leah Phillips was fouled on a 3-point shot attempt. She calmly stroked all of her freebies to put the Sycamores ahead by double figures, 33-23. The Eagles battled back to get the Sycamore advantage down to six, 33-27, but a lay-up by Lisa Verhoff, and three more points from Boeglin, sent ISU to the locker room up 38-27. ISU got some wiggle room early in the second half, when Verhoff stroked a 3-pointer for a 14-point lead, then Boeglin poured it on with a triple of her own to make it a 17-point advantage with 16:19 left in the game. A 3-point play by little-used senior Erin Hendrickson with 2:26 left in the game, sealed the contest and gave the Sycamores its largest lead of the game, 79-54. Following the game, the Indiana State team was rewarded for its efforts by the announcement that the Sycamores will host the second round of the WNIT on Monday night at 7:05 p.m. (EST). ISU will host either Indiana or Rice in postseason action. Indiana and Rice battle on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. (EST). WNIT TICKET INFO: Tickets for the WNIT Second Round game versus either Indiana or Rice will go on sale at Noon (EST) on Friday inside the Hulman Center Ticket Office. Season ticket holders have until 5:00 p.m. (EST) Friday to purchase their regular season tickets. Ticket prices for the Second Round game are $9 or adults and $5 for ISU students as well as youth, ages 18 and under.
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