Illinois State-Southern Illinois Game Notes in PDF Format
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Jan. 3, 2007
NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois State women's basketball team will look to remain undefeated in Missouri Valley Conference play when they visit in-state rival Southern Illinois Thursday night. Tip-off from SIU Arena is set for 7:05 p.m.
The Redbirds (9-4, 2-0 MVC) are coming off last weekend's two-game sweep over Creighton (Dec. 29) and Valley preseason favorite Drake (Dec. 31). Illinois State is off to a 2-0 start in conference play for the first time since the 2003-04 campaign, and for just the fourth time since the inception of MVC women's basketball in the 1992-93 season.
In Sunday's win over Drake, starting guards Kristi Cirone and Maggie Krick combined for 39 points and 12 rebounds to help head coach Robin Pingeton clinch her 50th win at Illinois State. It was the first time Illinois State has held an opponent to 50 or fewer points this season, and the Redbirds out-rebounded their opponent for the ninth time in 13 games.
Southern Illinois (6-7, 2-0) tallied road wins over Wichita State (Dec. 28) and Missouri State (Dec. 30) last weekend to clinch their best start to the Missouri Valley Conference season since 1993-94. Debbie Burris and Jasmine Gibson each collected double-digit scoring efforts in the two games. Burris was named the MVC Newcomer of the Week for her efforts.
SIU recorded a two-game sweep over Illinois State last season for the first time since the 2000-01 campaign. The last time the Salukis and Redbirds faced off, Erin Pauk's running layup off the glass with two seconds left in overtime gave Southern Illinois a 59-58 win over Illinois State on Mar. 4, 2006 at SIU Arena.
Illinois State leads the all-time series against Southern Illinois, 39-36, and has captured six of the last 10 meetings.
