NORMAL, Ill. – The upset bug bit SMS and Northern Iowa earlier during the 2005 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, and during the championship contest it got to Indiana State as the second-seeded Sycamores fell 72-70 at number eight Illinois State. ISU drops to 22-8 while the ‘Birds improve to 13-17 and advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1989.

Junior guard Melanie Boeglin poured in 30 points – 17 of which were scored in the contest’s final eight minutes – none bigger than a 3-pointer with 23.4 seconds remaining to tie the score at 70. Illinois State used the remainder of the clock to set up a turnaround jump shot by Jaci McCormack, which she drilled with just under one second remaining. A final heave by ISU bounced harmlessly to the floor as time expired.

Boeglin, who was named to the MVC All-Tournament squad for the second time in her career, hit 10-of-21 shots from the floor, including 4-of-10 from long range. She also broke her own single-season steals record by amassing six takeaways – giving her 119 for the season. She added four assists and six rebounds to the effort.

Senior Nikki Hall scored 10 first half points to keep ISU in the contest, giving the Sycamores a slim 34-33 lead at the break.

The Redbirds threatened to blow the game open by starting the second period on a 10-0 run, but the Sycamores quickly cut the lead back to four on one of Boeglin’s triples with 17:03 left to make the score 43-39.

Illinois State led by as many as 11 points in the second half at the 6:35 mark, up 62-51. Boeglin then took over the contest and her shot from long range with 3:22 showing got ISU within six at 68-62. Her steal and layup at the 1:45 mark got the Sycamores within four and she added a foul shot which cut the lead to 68-65. Boeglin then got another steal out of the Sycamore press and Lisch converted a pair of free throws to cut the ‘Bird lead to one.

McCormack took the ball down the court and drilled a layup to move the Birds up 70-67 when Boeglin drove the ball the length of the court off a McCormack missed free throw and hit her final 3-pointer to knot the score at 70 with 23.4 seconds remaining. Then McCormack drilled the game winner when time expired.

ISU out-rebounded its eighth consecutive opponent by a margin of 39-37. The Sycamores could not overcome a 34.9% shooting effort, and the Redbirds countered with a 50% night and were 7-of-11 from long range. Indiana State hit 18-of-23 foul shots, hitting all nine of their attempts in a tight second half.

Indiana State now awaits word from either the NCAA Selection Committee or the WNIT on postseason play. The NCAA selection show is live at 5:00 p.m. (EST) on ESPN while the WNIT will select its 2005 field by 10:00 p.m. Sunday night.