Oct. 30, 2006
NORMAL, Ill. - One year removed from an injury-plagued seventh-place finish in 2005-06, the Illinois State's women's basketball team was picked to finish fifth in the upcoming 2006-07 season by to the league's head coaches, media members and sports information directors. The preseason poll was announced in conjunction with the Valley's 100th anniversary celebration and annual media day at the Renaissance Grand Hotel in downtown St. Louis Monday.
Defending Valley Freshman of the Year and honorable mention selection Kristi Cirone was one of six members named to the preseason all-MVC team. Last season, Cirone averaged 13.9 points-per-game, and was the team leader in assists, free throws made and three-point field goals made. She scored in double figures in all but four contests while ranking eighth amongst freshman nationally in free throw percentage (80.4).
Illinois State has been picked in at least the top-seven of the past three preseason Valley polls under head coach Robin Pingeton, the highest three-year stretch since being tabbed in the top-six in each the 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99 campaigns.
Pingeton wasn't surprised by the preseason prognostications.
"It's not a big surprise at all," said Pingeton. "Fifth is actually right about where I thought we would be picked to start the season. There is so much parity in this conference, and things are really up for grabs. You have your frontrunners in Drake and Wichita State, and that is certainly justified. But from there, it's really a coin flip. It will be an interesting season with so many young players in the league. We are very excited about the direction of our program."
Pingeton was pleased with Cirone's preseason accolade.
"Kristi has been a great leader for our program and she is the quarterback of our team," Pingeton said. "It's a great honor for her, and one that is very deserving. We have high expectations for Kristi this season."
Drake was the favorite to capture the Valley championship, collecting 28 first-place votes. Wichita State was picked second and garnered 10 first-place votes, while Northern Iowa was tabbed third after finishing in the same spot last season. Evansville was picked fourth; Illinois State was five-points behind the Purple Aces in fifth; defending regular season Valley champion Indiana State was tabbed sixth; Missouri State and Southern Illinois (176 points) tied for seventh, while Creighton (ninth) and Bradley rounded out the poll.
Illinois State finished the promising 2005-06 campaign 12-16 overall and 7-11 in the league. The Redbirds lost freshman center Nicolle Lewis (6.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg) and sophomore guard Ashley Sandstead (10.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg) to season-ending knee injuries in the first ten games, and played the first eight games of the campaign without the services of veteran guard Megan McCracken. Despite the lack of depth, the `Birds posted wins in three of their final four Valley contests before dropping a decision to 19-game winner Northern Iowa in the first-round of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Springfield, Mo.
The 2006-07 Redbirds are led by 11 returning players - nine of whom garnered starting experience at some point last season. In addition, Illinois State will add a group of four talented newcomers, each of which will have the opportunity to vie for playing time and make immediate contributions. Pingeton welcomes freshmen Ashleen Bracey (Oak Park, Ill.), Maggie Krick (Washington, Ill.) and Kenyatta Shelton (Chicago) along with junior transfer Tamara Butler (Lincoln Land CC) to the program.
The `Birds open the 2006-07 campaign Saturday (Nov. 4) with their exhibition opener against Odyssey at Redbird Arena beginning at 5:05 p.m. Illinois State plays their first four regular season games on the road, including the season opener at in-state rival Northern Illinois on Nov. 11.
