Nov. 16, 2005
Implementing a new `tag-team' approach, the Illinois State women's basketball team opens the regular season Friday as the `Birds travel to Chicago State for a 7:05 p.m. matchup with the Cougars.
Head coach Robin Pingeton is counting on the overall strength of her 12 players over 40 minutes to prevail.
"We have a lot of different rotations we can go with," said Pingeton. "We have a lot of depth on the inside and on the perimeter which will allow us to play a more up-tempo style and go deeper into the bench. A tag-team approach which puts the team first will be very important for us."
Believing her players are better when working together, Pingeton is specifically selling this tactic to point guards Tiffany Hudson and Kristi Cirone and post players Holly Hallstrom, Lashawn Johnson, Lori Trumblee, Nicolle Lewis and Brea Banks. Her new approach has paid off so far as the Redbirds boast four players in double-digits through the two exhibition matches.
"We've talked to Tiffany and Kristi and stressed this with them," said Pingeton. "The point is `the two of us combined can beat any point guard we're going to face all year long.' If the five of those kids (post players) can commit to one another, there aren't any two other post players in the conference or on the schedule that can compete with those girls. They are strong and athletic. They can run the floor and rebound. But we've got to get them to be very unselfish and to play for each other instead of getting caught up in the individual stat line."
Hudson is a believer in Pingeton's system.
"You can feel the team coming together and I think everyone is buying into this new system," said Hudson. "With the guards and the post players tag-teaming together, I think we will be pretty successful this weekend and throughout the season."
Coming off a 93-58 win over Northwest Missouri State on Sunday, the Redbirds look to open the regular season with a win over Chicago State. Friday's game will be the first between the two programs, though the Redbirds own a 43-4 against other current Mid-Continent Conference members.
Pingeton and her team are looking to use the improvement from the exhibition matches in their favor against Chicago State.
"We're really excited to get started," Pingeton said. "Our two exhibition games completely served their purposes. I think we saw a lot of improvement from one week to the next. Chicago State is very athletic and they play a pretty up-tempo style. They are pretty aggressive so we will have to do a good job of getting on the boards and boxing out. I anticipate a battle just like most of the other games this season will be. There is no doubt in my mind that our kids will be ready to go."
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