Feb. 7, 2006
Illinois State will try to end a two-game losing streak and stop Northern Iowa's five-game winning streak in a 7:05 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference women's basketball game Friday at Redbird Arena.
Illinois State, 8-11 overall, 3-7 in the Valley, has dropped its last two games, but only by a total of seven points. Before that, the `Birds had won three straight. Over the past five games, the Redbirds have shown balance, improved ball control and better rebounding.
Led by Amber Shelton's 13.8 points per game, four Redbirds averaged double figures scoring for the past five games (Kristi Cirone 12.2, Holly Hallstrom 11.6 and Megan McCracken 10.6) while Lori Trumblee, a newcomer to the starting lineup, is just shy of double digits with 9.6 points per game.
While losing nine of 10 games from mid-December to mid-January, the `Birds were out-rebounded by an average of five per game and were turning the ball over more than their opponents. In the past five games, Illinois State has a plus+3.4 rebounding edge and is averaging just 14.8 turnovers per game--down from nearly 18 per game previously.
With a young team which has been hit hard by injuries, ISU coach Robin Pingeton still thinks her team is looking better.
"I feel we're getting better every day," said Pingeton. "I don't know if we've turned the corner, but I think we're headed in the right direction. They (Redbird players) are all very encouraged and optimistic that we can finish on a strong note. Instead of hanging their heads after a loss, I think they've looked at what they can do to get better."
The Panthers, 14-6, 8-3, are certain they are going in the right direction. They beat Illinois State 75-69 on Jan. 12 in Cedar Falls, then lost to Indiana State two days later. But, since the Indiana State loss, UNI has reeled-off five straight victories and taken over second place in the Valley. Since Jan. 7, only Indiana State (five), Drake and UNI (two each) have won more than one road game.
UNI coach Tony DiCecco, the dean of Valley basketball coaches, knows how tough the road can be in the Valley and believes Illinois State is better than the team his squad beat in January.
"When they played us in the West Gym, they were up 10 in the second half," said DiCecco, whose team trailed 57-47 with 10 minutes remaining, but out-scored the `Birds 28-12 in the final 10 minutes. "We know how tough they will be on their home court. They played Indiana State very tough."
DiCecco's post duo of 6-foot-7 Cassie Hager and 6-foot Tara King combining for 51 points, 15 rebounds and a bunch of big plays in those fateful final 10 minutes in the game in Cedar Falls. Hager and King combine to average 30 points and 13 rebounds per game while shooting over 50 percent from the field and 85 percent from the free throw line this season.
The Redbirds finish their home stand with a 2:05 p.m. tipoff Sunday against Bradley in Redbird Arena.
