Nov. 24, 2006
Illinois State-Chicago State Game Notes in PDF Format
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THE FAST BREAK
• Tonight's game marks just the second all-time meeting between Illinois State and Chicago State. The Redbirds defeated the Cougars, 70-63, on Nov. 18, 2005 at CSU's Jacoby D. Dickens Center.
• The Coaches: Robin Pingeton (St. Ambrose, `90) owns a 43-49 (.467) mark in her three years at Illinois State. In her 10 years as a head coach, Pingeton has compiled a career record of 237-125. Angela Jackson is in her fourth year at Chicago State, and has a 33-53 overall record.
• During her tenure at Illinois State, Pingeton owns a 3-0 record in home openers at Redbird Arena.
• Pingeton owns an even 11-11 record against non-conference foes in her tenure at Illinois State, including an 8-5 record at Redbird Arena.
• Tonight's game will mark Illinois State's fourth game against a non-conference foe from the Chicago metropolitan area this season. ISU opened the season with a setback at Northern Illinois, followed with a win at Loyola Chicago on Nov. 14, and dropped a 94-60 decision to No. 22 DePaul in the championship game of the DePaul Invitational on Saturday.
SHELTON TABBED MVC NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
After leading the Redbirds to the championship game of the DePaul Invitational last weekend, Illinois State freshman forward Kenyatta Shelton was named the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week. Shelton continued the stellar start to her freshman season by averaging 15.7 points and 9.3 rebounds in three games. In the win over Stony Brook, she recorded her second career double-double with a game-high 19 points (including a game-high nine field goals), 11 rebounds, and two blocks in 30 minutes. Against No. 22/19 DePaul on Saturday, Shelton had 14 points (7-of-13), six rebounds and two blocks.
PINGETON IN HOME OPENERS
Head coach Robin Pingeton is 3-0 in season-opening games at Redbird Arena in her three years at Illinois State. The `Birds have defeated Air Force (2003-04), Ball State (2004-05) and Loyola Chicago (2005-06) in those contests.
ILLINOIS STATE IN HOME OPENERS
Illinois State is 23-11 all-time in home openers. Since Redbird Arena became the home of ISU basketball in 1989, the `Birds are 9-7 in season openers at the facility.
ALL-TOURNAMENT ACCOLADES
Sophomore point guard Kristi Cirone was named to the All-Tournament team at the DePaul Invitational after averaging 11.5 points, 8.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game in the two contests.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE TROUBLE
Both Kristi Cirone and Kenyatta Shelton recorded double-doubles in Illinois State's win over Stony Brook in the first-round of the DePaul Invitational on Nov. 17. Cirone had 11 points and 10 assists in the game, while Shelton scored 19 points to go along with 11 rebounds.
IN THE 2005-06 HOME SEASON OPENER
In last year's season opener at Redbird Arena (Nov. 20, 2005), the Redbirds defeated visiting Loyola Chicago, 82-56. Holly Hallstrom tallied a career-high 24 points and added eight rebounds, and freshman Kristi Cirone posted a double-double in her second career collegiate game with 11 points and 10 assists for the Redbirds. Cirone's 10 assists also tied the third-highest total for assists in a game at Redbird Arena. Ashley Sandstead added 14 points in the win.
NEWCOMERS MAKING THEIR MARK
Through the first four games of the season, Illinois State's two starting freshmen (guard Maggie Krick and forward Kenyatta Shelton) have made a significant statistical impact. Krick is the team leader in 3-point field goals made (6) and attempted (18), and ranks second in steals (3) and scoring average (10.0 ppg). Shelton leads Illinois State in field goals made (25) and attempted (52), scoring average (12.8 ppg) and offensive rebounds (13).
LAST TIME AGAINST CHICAGO STATE
Holly Hallstrom's 21-points and nine rebounds powered the Illinois State women's basketball team to a 70-63 come from behind victory over Chicago State in its season opener on Nov. 18, 2005 at the Jacoby Dickens Center in Chicago. The win marked head coach Robin Pingeton's 30th victory at the helm of the women's basketball program. Kristi Cirone chipped in 13 and dished out six assists, while Ashley Sandstead contributed 12 points.
A LOW RISK BACKCOURT
Illinois State's backcourt tandem of Kristi Cirone and Tiffany Hudson have continued to take care of the ball when they run the offense this season. Cirone has 27 assists to just 11 turnovers, elevating her career assist/turnover ratio to 1.69, the best-ever mark in ISU basketball history. Hudson's career assist/turnover ratio is 1.42, the fourth-best ever mark in program history.
IT COULD HAPPEN
Three 3-pointers by guard Megan McCracken would move her into a tie for sixth all-time (Shandeen Hunt, 1997-01) in career three-point field goals made.
STEALIN' THE SHOW
Guard Megan McCracken collected her 60th career steal in Illinois State's setback to DePaul in the championship game of last weekend's DePaul Invitational. McCracken is ISU's career active leader in points, three-point field goals made, three-point percentage and steals.
OUT-SWATTING THEIR COUNTERPARTS
Through the first four games of the season, Illinois State has collected 22.0 total team blocks, compared to just 8.0 for their opposition. Nicolle Lewis has a team-leading seven blocks; Maggie Krick and Kenyatta Shelton have four blocks each, and Lashawn Johnson has added three blocks this season.
AGAINST THE STATE
In the Robin Pingeton era, the Redbirds have a combined record of 9-7 against opponents from the state of Illinois. In the 34-year history of Redbird women's basketball, ISU is a combined 159-84 against in-state foes.
70 THE MAGIC NUMBER?
One of the recipes for success for Illinois State this season may be hitting the 70-point plateau. In the Redbirds' two wins (Nov. 14 at Loyola and Nov. 17 vs. Stony Brook), ISU scored more than 70 points (77 and 73, respectively). In their two losses, the Redbirds failed to reach the 70-point mark.
