Who-da-thunk-it? Creighton, picked to finish sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll, is leading heading into the final games of the first half of the season. Illinois State, chosen a distant ninth, instead is hunting for its third win in four games and is the only league team to beat Creighton.
Ah, but some things stay the same: Southwest Missouri State comes to Normal for a 2:05 p.m. game with the Redbirds Saturday looking right over Creightons league-leading shoulder.
Lady Bears head coach Cheryl Burnett has retooled SMS, 9-7 overall, 6-2 and one game behind CU in the Valley, from the senior-laden, Jackie Stiles-led, NCAA Final Four unit of a year ago. Now, freshman wing player Jenny Lingor--the reigning Valley Player of the Week--and senior point guard Erica Vicente are the key cogs in the SMS machine which has won or shared nine of the last 11 regular-season league titles.
Illinois State, 5-12 overall and 3-5 in the Valley, is trying for its first three-game league winning streak since 1998. Redbird coach
Jenny Yopps respect for the Bears predates her tenure at Illinois State.
Along with the great tradition and potential of Redbird basketball, SMSs success representing the Valley under coach Burnett made coming to Illinois State attractive to me, said Yopp, in her third year in Normal. We have competed well with them here (at Redbird Arena) in the past. Now we feel its a level playing field for us to compete with SMS on the court.
One of the key contributors to the most recent Redbird win, a 68-64 decision over Wichita State on Thursday, is sophomore guard
Taren O'Brien, who scored a career-high 19 points and tied a Redbird Arena record for ISU players with 11 free throws made despite having to leave the game midway through the second half to stop a bleeding laceration under her chin.
Tarens leadership gives us another player who is willing to accept the challenge, said Yopp.
Steph (Reichle) has always been that kind of player. Now, Taren and other players are taking the opportunity to step up. Thursday night, Taren felt she had to go back in (after her injury).
Three minutes on the time clock later, OBrien returned to hit key free throws--along with Reichle--to help seal the victory. Seven stitches and less than 48 hours later, she will be in the starting lineup against SMS. Her bumps and bruises typify the way the Redbirds have been defending foes recently.
Taren epitomizes the mental toughness we have been working for and have developed, said Yopp, along with the stability, stamina and willingness to bounce back from any obstacle. We have players who are willing to do that, and its the difference for our team.
Yopp knows the Bears, who have the Valleys longest winning streak at four in a row, will put all that to the test.
Its a different cast than last year, but certainly a similar system which has worked for coach Burnett and SMS for a lot of years, said Yopp. They have size and depth in the post, and perimeter shooters led by a point guard (Vicente) who controls the team on the court. Most importantly, SMS plays hard, intense defense and always plays with a lot of confidence.
Illinois State continues its homestand next week with games against Northern Iowa on Friday and Bradley the following Sunday.
