Customer Service Place an Ad Become a Carrier Contact Us About Us Mobile Edition E-Mail Updates Report Cancellation Submit Milestone
| Subscribe Now Customer Service Place an Ad Become a Carrier Contact Us About Us Mobile Edition E-Mail Updates Report Cancellation Submit Milestone
|
 |
 |
|
Weather  Calendar Obituaries Classifieds Jobs Autos Homes Rentals Coupons Ad Center Gift Finder |
Bloomington-Normal, Illinois
|
Home News Sports
Free Time Life Money Nation/World Opinion Blogs/Columns Archives Site Map |
| SportsThursday, October 11, 2007 2:13 PM CDT |
 Comments (0) |  E-mail this page |  Print this page |  Enlarge type |  Reduce type |  Search archives |  RSS feeds |  Add to My Yahoo! |
Star guard Cirone, Redbirds set sights on NCAA tourney
NORMAL — Kristi Cirone was asked what she can do for an encore after being named the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year in 2006 and the league’s Player of the Year last season. Illinois State’s junior point guard chuckled before quickly turning the tables on the questioner. “I would say what can the team do for an encore this year?” Cirone said. With Cirone, three other starters and a wealth of experienced bench players returning from last season’s 22-11 team, the excitement level was off the charts Wednesday at the ISU women’s basketball team’s Media Day at Redbird Arena. After winning more games than any ISU team in two decades and reaching the second round of the WNIT a year ago, the Redbirds are aiming much higher this season. “The WNIT is obviously a great tournament and it’s great to be in the postseason, but we want to be in the NCAA Tournament and that’s our goal,” said fifth-year ISU coach Robin Pingeton. “That (WNIT) experience is something that’s just going to help us, but we also know that was last year and you have to put that away. It’s a brand new season. If we can stay healthy, I think we’ve got a shot at doing some pretty special things this year.” It all starts with the 5-foot-8 Cirone, who averaged a team-high 16.4 points and 5.6 assist per game. The Chicago Resurrection High School graduate dominated in MVC play, averaging a league-best 19.3 points and 2.07 assist/turnover ratio. “It’s exciting to have her back for two more seasons,” Pingeton said. “She’s done a great job leading this team. She has been put in a tough position since the time she walked on campus. She was named captain as a freshman, which doesn’t happen very often. “Every year she has continued to get better, and I think she’s going to take another giant step forward this year and take her game to another level.” Cirone will be surrounded by a solid supporting cast, led by 6-foot-6 sophomore center Nicolle Lewis (9.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 57 blocked shots), 6-2 senior center Lashawn Johnson (7.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg) and 5-11 sophomore guard Maggie Krick (6.4 ppg). “We have a lot of goals and a lot of things we want to achieve,” said Lewis, an honorable mention all-MVC performer. “We just want to grow as a team, work hard and have fun.” Sophomore forward Kenyatta Shelton (9.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg) and senior guard Tiffany Hudson (6.5 ppg) are the other top returnees. Guards Sha’la Jackson (Fort Wayne, Ind., South Side) and Amanda Clifton (Rock Island Alleman) head a promising freshman class. “All of the returners are very solid and our newcomers are a real good bunch,” Cirone said. “It will make my job a lot easier because there are a lot of people I can go to. I trust them all.” The lone question mark is Shelton, a dynamic 6-1 leaper who is coming off knee surgery in June. Shelton was named to the Valley’s all-Freshman Team despite missing nine games with a stress fracture in her foot. “We’re still undecided if she’ll redshirt, but things are looking pretty promising so far,” Pingeton said. “Kenyatta has worked extremely hard with her rehab. She’s an awfully driven kid. If she has anything to say about it, she’s going to be in uniform this year.” Pingeton hopes the Redbirds have plenty to say about determining the Valley champion. “I know I said this last year, but I think there’s still more parity this year than there ever has been in the league,” Pingeton said. “I think it’s going to be a dogfight, but I like how we stack up against teams with all of our experience coming back, our size and strength inside, and our perimeter players. “Last year we felt like we had a very talented team but no matter which way you spun it, we were very young. That’s not the case this year. I think we have all the tools for a tremendous year.” Redbird factsHead coach: Robin Pingeton, 5th season (4-year record 63-58) Nickname: Redbirds Conference: Missouri Valley 2006-07 record: Won 22, Lost 11 (13-5 in Valley) RETURNING STARTERS Name, Pos., Ht., Cl. Kristi Cirone, G, 5-8, Jr. Lashawn Johnson, C, 6-2, Sr. Maggie Krick, G, 5-11, So. Nicolle Lewis, C, 6-6, So. OTHER RETURNING LETTERWINNERS Brea Banks, F, 6-0, Jr. Ashleen Bracey, F, 6-0, So. Tamara Butler, F, 6-0, Sr. Tiffany Hudson, G, 5-7, Sr. Ashley Sandstead, G, 5-10, Jr. Kenyatta Shelton, F, 6-1, So. Brooke Singleton, G/F, 5-10, Jr. NEWCOMERS Danielle Calef, F/G, 6-0, Fr. Amanda Clifton, G, 5-8, Fr. Sha’la Jackson, G-F, 5-9, Fr. Taylor Lawless, F, 6-1, Fr. Schedule in Scoreboard Get area high school sports scores and statistics at Varsity Sports. E-mail this story | Print this story | Search archives | RSS Show comments |  Hide comments | Hide comments on all stories |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
Top of Page | Home | News | Sports | Free Time | Life | Money | Nation/World | Opinion | Blogs/Columns | Archives | Site Map | RSS
Customer Service | 301 W. Washington St., PO Box 2907, Bloomington, IL 61701-2907 | Ph. 309-829-9000 | 800-747-7323
Copyright © 2009, Pantagraph Publishing Co. and Lee Enterprises. All rights reserved. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
|
Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.
Please read the rules before posting comments.
You must be logged in to leave comments.
If you don't have a member ID, please register.