Two of the nations top three-point shooting teams will be firing long-range shots starting at 7:05 p.m. Friday in Redbird Arena as the Illinois State Redbirds, ranked No. 4 in three-pointers per game in the latest NCAA Statistics Service national rankings, and the Southwest Missouri State Bears, tied for No. 7 on the same list, meet in a Missouri Valley Conference womens basketball game.
Illinois State, 4-8, 1-2 in the Valley, has scored 36 percent of its points this season on threes, with 102 in 12 games. SMS, 8-5, 3-1 in the Valley, has 100 treys in 13 games accounting for 32 percent of the Bears points.
The Valleys leading scorer, Jenni Lingor, tops the Bears with 21.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. Lingor and multi-talented Redbird forward Katie Donovan (14.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists per game) are the only two players among the Valleys top 10 in scoring, rebounding and assists. Reigning Valley MVP Kari Koch missed the first six games of the season with an injury, but has returned to average 11.6 points per game for SMS.
Redbird coach Robin Pingeton understands that the three-pointer is a valued part of each teams arsenalthe Bears and Birds each have six players who have taken better than one-third of their shots from beyond the arc.
As many three-point shooters as both these teams have, Im sure there will be some threes shot by both sides, said Pingeton. But defending the three will be a focus for both teams as well. I dont know if we can stop Lingor and Koch, but we need to contain them.
Pingeton thinks other factors than offense will make a difference.
Defense and rebounding will be huge for both teams, said Pingeton. Our focus in practice this week has been on toughness. One of our weaknesses is our inability to take care of the ball. Weve faced some pressure defenses, but many of our turnovers have been unforced. Our mental approach is important. We know we can do better.
Holly Hallstrom (6.4) is the ISU rebounding leader.
Megan McCracken (12.4) and Jaci McCormack (11.3) join Donovan to give the Birds three players scoring in double figures. A recent three-point binge (17 of 29 in the last five games) helped McCormack, No. 12 in the nation in three-point field goals per game, become the 25th player in Valley history to reach 150 career treys. In three-point field goal percentage, McCormack (.458) is No. 14 and McCracken (.452) is No. 16 in the nation.
The Birds were picked third in the preseason poll behind SMS and Creighton. The Bears lone league loss came at Evansville and Creighton is undefeated after a 79-78 overtime win over the Redbirds last Saturday. Pingeton says her team has a good perspective on its loss to Creighton and the task in front of it.
Our team sees the Creighton game as one that slipped through our fingers, said Pingeton. Dont take anything away from Creighton, but we had plenty of opportunities to win that game. The effort was there, but we have to learn to play better with a lead. We want to understand how to play to win, instead of how to play not to lose. Every game in this conference is a battle.
The Redbirds finish their home weekend with a 2:05 p.m. Sunday match-up with Wichita State at Redbird Arena.
