February 8, 2007
Women’s Basketball
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INDIANA STATE BREAKS LONG LOSING STREAK AT MISSOURI STATE

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The last time the Indiana State Sycamores won at Hammons Student Center, George Herbert Walker Bush, our nation’s 41^st President had just been inaugurated. That night, the Sycamores needed four overtimes to down Missouri State, tonight it took regulation for ISU to defeat the Lady Bears, 63-53. ISU improves to 13-10, 6-6 MVC while MSU falls to 6-14, 2-9 MVC.

Indiana State had lost each of its last 19 games at Missouri State, including last season’s State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Championship.

“It feels great to win here,” head coach Jim Wiedie said. “Our young kids played well in a hostile environment, and our senior, Rachel Maenpaa had one of her best games of the year. Kelsey Luna and Sarah Paul were also terrific in a big road game. Of all our wins, this one is the most special because of the way we have lost here in the past.”

ISU was paced by senior Rachel Maenpaa who scored 24 points and pulled down seven rebounds in the victory. Her final three points sealed the win. After MSU’s Tahnee Balerio drilled a 3-point basket with 38 seconds left to inch the Lady Bears closer at 56-53, Angela Phillips threw ¾ court pass to a streaking Maenpaa who laid the ball in and hit the free throw after being fouled for a 59-53 lead.

“It feels great to make that play for this team,” Maenpaa said. “The last two weeks have been rough, but tonight I just came out and played hard to get this win.”

Freshmen Sarah Paul and Kelsey Luna hit all four remaining free throws to give ISU the 63-53 victory.

The Sycamores led 32-22 at the half by dominating the rebounding battle. ISU finished the game with a 43-27 edge on the boards.

Maenpaa paced the team with 24 points while Luna, starting for the first time in her career, scorched the nets for 18. Laura Rudolphi scored 12.

Angela Phillips added seven assists and seven rebounds while Paul was credit with a career-high five assists as well as personal best 10 rebounds.

Indiana State hit 19-of-22 free throws in the game, while Missouri State was just 6-of-8. The Sycamores hit just 4-of-20 shots from 3-point range.

The Sycamores get right back into action on Saturday afternoon when they tip-off at Wichita State beginning at 3:05 p.m. (EST). The Shockers were idle tonight.

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