Nov. 23, 2005
Normal, Ill. -
Megan McCracken was the only current Illinois State women's basketball player alive the last time an Illinois State women's basketball team won its first three games of the regular season (1983). The 2005-06 Redbirds have a chance to match that feat when they take the court against Northern Illinois at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in Redbird Arena.
McCracken, a fourth-year junior guard who is currently sidelined with a hip injury, was born in September, 1983. The last time the Redbirds were 3-0 was in early December of that same year and that Redbird team, coached by Jill Hutchison, earned a post-season bid to the Women's National Invitation Tournament and finished 23-8.
While Redbird coach Robin Pingeton appreciated the history lesson, she is more focused on the end of that 1983-84 season than the start.
"It would be a great accomplishment to be 3-and-0," said Pingeton, "but we understand that it's not where you start as much as you finish."
The `Birds understand that because, after a 10-17 regular season last year, they won the 2005 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and earned the program's first NCAA bid in 16 years. Pingeton, who is starting three sophomores and two freshmen this season, wants her young team to keep improving, especially early in the season.
"We are very focused on the process," said Pingeton. "We have plenty of things to focus on to get better; to grow and learn every day whether it's in practice or in a game. A lot of those things are not as apparent to the fans, but we know we have to work on them."
The Redbirds' 2-0 start has come with some accolades. Senior forward Holly Hallstrom is leading the Valley in scoring and was the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week this week. Freshman guard Kristi Cirone leads the conference in assists. She is this week's State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week. Four other Redbirds rank in the top 10 in the Valley in at least one category.
Illinois State is averaging 76 points per game this season and has out-scored its first two opponents--Chicago State and Loyola Chicago--by a combined 89-54 after halftime.
Northern Illinois is 1-2 following a 50-34 loss at Western Illinois on Tuesday. The Huskies' new coach is Carol Owens, arguably the greatest player in NIU history. She is familiar with Illinois State because Owens was an assistant at Notre Dame last season. The Irish and Redbirds opened the 2004-05 season against each other in the Preseason Women's NIT.
The Huskies fell victim to WIU's tenacious defense, scoring just 14 points after halftime, as the Westerwinds won their 41st straight home game--the longest current streak of its kind in women's college basketball.
