November 4, 2006
Women’s Basketball
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STRONG PRESS IN SECOND HALF LEADS TO 87-67 SYCAMORE WIN

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State women’s basketball overcame a slow first half to capture an 87-67 exhibition win over Saint Joseph’s College Saturday afternoon. The Sycamores showed a balanced scoring effort with five players scoring in double-figures. The St. Joe’s Pumas were led by Patience Meyer with 22 points on 8 of 14 shooting.

“We were all over the place in that first half,” women’s head coach Jim Wiedie said. “People seemed to be shooting the ball quicker than normal.”

The women appeared to have everything well in hand in the teams’ first exhibition game of the year, building a lead of 11-3 over the first four minutes of the game. However, the Pumas would get back in the game on an 11-2 run, holding a 14-13 advantage with 14 minutes remaining in the half.

Neither team would take an advantage heading into half-time as small runs were countered, culminating in a 38-38 deadlock after the first 20 minutes of play.

“We were excited and rushing our shots in that first half,” ISU sophomore Angela Phillips said of the team’s first half play. “But in the second half, we slowed down and were able to look at more options.”

Following an Annie Bankhead layup and a jumper by SJC’s Meyer, ISU’s Laura Ruldophi hit a shot that put the Sycamores up 42-40 and gave the home team the lead for good.

Indiana State turned up the pressure in the middle of the second half, forcing turnovers and building a 12-0 run that sealed the win for the Sycamores. After back-to-back three-point baskets by Phillips and a lay-up by Rudolphi, ISU built its largest lead of the game at 20 with seven minutes remaining in the half.

The differential would hold as the Sycamores secured the 87-67 home victory. Phillips led Indiana State with 17 points, six assists, and two steals with Rudolphi close behind scoring 14 points, six rebounds, and a team-high three blocks.

Rachel Maenpaa, Annie Bankhead, and Sarah Paul rounded out the double-digit scoring for the Sycamores with 13, 11 and ten, respectively. Maenpaa would add a team-high eight rebounds while Bankhead dished out a game-high eight assists.

Indiana State will be back in action on November 8 as the Sycamores host Southern Illinois-Edwardsville in the squad’s final exhibition match prior to the season opener at Iowa on November 15. Tip-off for the game with SIU-Edwardsville is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.