NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's basketball team has led the Valley all season in defensive efforts, currently holding their opponents to an average of 33.0 field goal percentage, allowing 53.8 points per game. The Birds will face the Valley's offensive powerhouse, Drake University on Friday on Doug Collins Court in Redbird Arena. Drake has led the MVC all season, averaging 83.2 points per game, while holding an 11.6 margin over their opponents.
GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State Redbirds (8-10, 2-5) vs. Drake Bulldogs (12-7, 7-0)
When: Friday, January 26
Tip-Off: 7p.m.CT
THE SERIES
• The Redbirds are 35-41 overall when facing the Bulldogs. The Birds are 21-15 at home, 13-22 at Drake and 1-4 at a neutral site.
• The teams most recently met on March 10, 2017 at the Missouri Valley Tournament and the Bulldogs captured a 64-40 victory.
• Coach Gillespie has previously met Coach Baranczyk in 2002 at the LMU Thanksgiving Classic in Los Angeles, California. Gillespie was working as a graduate assistant under the direction of legendary, Kay Yow at NC State and Coach Baranczyk was playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes. NC State defeated Baranczyk and the Hawkeyes 69-66 in overtime on Nov. 29, 2002. This will be the first time the two meet has head coaches.
REDBIRD BITS
• Illinois State finished 1-1 last weekend in Indiana, defeating Evansville 67-43 and dropping to Indiana State 52-49. The Evansville victory was the largest margin the team has held over an opponent this season and was the highest scoring game for the Redbirds.
• On average MVC opponents have scored 9.4 points fewer per game than their season scoring average.
• Viria Livingston  and Megan Talbot each captured their first career double-double this season during MVC play.
• Freshman point guard Paige Saylor continues to lead the conference in steals per game with 2.6.
• Green Goods and Katrina Beck have each had noteworthy performances this season, earning them MVC Player of the Week Honors.
 • Megan Talbot, Livingston and Green are all in the top ten of the MVC for rebounding.
 SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
• Drake leads the conference in scoring efforts, racking up 83.2 points per game and holds an average of 11.6 point margin over their opponents.
• The Bulldogs are on a seven-game win streak, putting them first in the league with a 7-0 conference record.
• Over the past four seasons, Drake has ranked in the top 10 every season in the NCAA in assists per game. The Bulldogs are once again sharing the basketball as they entered the week No. 2 in the country averaging 22.8 assists per game narrowly behind No. 1 ranked, UConn (22.9), while leading the nation in total assists with 410
• Redshirt junior Maddy Dean scored her 1,000th career point early in the win over UNI.
• Drake won its 25th consecutive regular season Valley game to set a league record. The Bulldogs had been tied with Missouri State, which won 24 straight MVC games from 1999-2000. Drake's impressive streak started on Feb. 26, 2016, and included last season's 18-0 mark in MVC play.
DEFENSIVE STRENGTHÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
The Redbirds lead the MVC are ranked sixth in the country for field goal percentage defense, holding their opponents to an average of 33.0 percent. They are also first in conference and tabbed sixth in scoring defense in the nation, allowing 53.8 points per game.
WE BACK PAT
The Redbirds will help raise awareness for Alzheimer's disease at the game, which is named in honor of legendary Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt, who passed away June 28, 2016, after losing her nearly five-year battle with the disease.
Illinois State Athletics partners with the local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association to bring recognition to local medical groups and facilities working with Alzheimer's patients and their families. Redbird fans are asked to wear purple for this game specifically, in honor of the ongoing fight against Alzheimer's.
Back in September, the women's basketball team joined together in the 2017 Walk to End Alzheimer's at the Corn Crib. This year's Walk to End Alzheimer's will take place on Saturday, September 18th.
This game features family ticket packs available for purchase, including four game tickets and four hot dog meal vouchers for just $40.
NEXT UP
The Redbirds remain home to take on the Northern Iowa Panthers on Sunday at 2 p.m. on Doug Collins Court in Redbird Arena.
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