Nov. 6, 2007
NORMAL, Ill. -
Playing its second exhibition game in four days, the Illinois State women's basketball team hosts Upper Iowa on Tuesday, Nov. 6, at 7:05 p.m. in Redbird Arena. The meeting with the Peacocks will be the first ever for the Redbirds and their last exhibition before the 2007-08 season begins.
The Redbirds opened the season with an 83-63 win over Northwest Missouri State on Saturday, Nov. 3; their third-consecutive against the Bearcats in preseason play. The Redbirds had stellar play from their guards to lead them to the win. Junior Kristi Cirone led the team with 27 points and seven assists. Freshman Shala Jackson scored 16 points, on 5-of-7 shooting, and pulled down six rebounds in her first collegiate action. Senior Tiffany Hudson and sophomore Maggie Krick chipped in 13 and 11 points, respectively. Sophomore forward Ashleen Bracey was introduced to the starting lineup for the first time in her career and took to it very well with eight points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Upper Iowa is in the unique position of having already played three regular season games at the Disney World Tip-Off Classic last weekend, although the Peacocks lost all three games at the tournament. Sophomore guard Andrea Downs, a Chicago natives, was named to the all-tournament team after scoring in double-figures and leading the Peacocks in assists in each game of the Disney Classic. Senior forward Chelsea Petersen is Upper Iowa's top-rebounder (7.7 RPG) and had 11 boards against Assumption.
All of the preparation of the preseason is leading up to the 2007-08 regular-season opener for Illinois State at Eastern Illinois on Sunday, Nov. 11, at 3:05 p.m.
