It has been quite a few years since Illinois State has had more than one physical post player, but coach Robin Pingeton has a pair of 6-foot-2 powerhouses for the 2004-05 season: junior college transfer Holly Hallstrom and freshman Lashawn Johnson. They will see more action in Illinois States second exhibition game, a 2:05 p.m. match with Saint Xavier Sunday in Redbird Arena.
Our practices are physical and those two battle every single day, said Pingeton, who saw Hallstrom and Johnson combine for nine points, 15 rebounds, three steals, three assists and two blocks in an 85-65 win over Odyssey last Sunday. Holly is the most athletic post player we have. Shawn has tremendous potential and works hard every day. They really go after it.
But Hallstrom says they leave the combativeness on the court.
Shawn and I get along great; we are just trying to make each other better in practice, said Hallstrom, a 2002 Moline High School graduate who was part of Kirkwood (Iowa) Community Colleges national tournament run last season. Shawn and I are just out there trying to improve and learn. I love the (ISU) up-tempo style. Its a lot of fun to play.
The Redbirds likely will be without Jaci McCormack, a returning starter at guard who has been sidelined with an ankle injury. Another projected starter, guard
Megan McCracken, is awaiting the results of an MRI of her injured left heel, which could come later in the week.
We need Jaci and Megan healthy, said Pingeton, who started Hallstrom and two freshman guards, Tiffany Hudson and Ashley Sandstead, in the first exhibition. But, perhaps their injuries were a blessing in disguise because our younger players are getting some additional time in these exhibition games.
St. Xavier coach Bob Hallberg, also SXUs athletics director, should be a familiar name to veteran Redbird basketball fans. From 1977 to 1996, he coached mens teams at Chicago State and at Illinois-Chicago that had some classic battles with Illinois State. His early Division I teams at Chicago State were always undersizedbut never out-foughtat Horton Field House. Hallbergs UIC and CSU teams were 3-5 against some of the best ISU teams in history.
Hallberg has 469 career college coaching victories in 23 years as a college coach, including 100 in five seasons as St. Xavier womens coach. His 1985-86 Chicago State team still shares (with Illinois State) the NCAA record for wins by a first-year Division I program with 16. Hallberg founded the SXU womens program in 1999 and the current Cougars ranked No. 24 in NAIA Division I coming off a 26-10 season.
The Redbirds begin the regular season Nov. 12 at Notre Dame in the SportsView.tv Preseason Womens NIT.
