Dec. 18, 2007
Redbird All-Access members, watch Coach Pingeton's weekly press conference.
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State women's basketball team (8-1) returns home for its first game at Redbird Arena in nearly three weeks to host in-state rival Western Illinois (3-6) on Wednesday, Dec. 19, at 7:05 p.m. It will be the last game before the 12-day holiday hiatus for the Redbirds, who are off to the second-best start in program history and have won a school-record eight non-conference games already this season. Wednesday night's matchup is the 43rd in the Illinois State-Western Illinois all-time series and the first since 2001.
"It's definitely good to be back home. I am definitely pleased with where we are at this point, but there are some things we need to improve on," said head coach Robin Pingeton. "Western Illinois is another in-state rivalry and it is the first time we have had them on our schedule in a number of years. I think their record is a bit deceiving. They have some talented players and do a great job with their transition offense. It's going to be another good game for us and I know our players are excited to get another game under their belts before the holiday break."
THE REDBIRDS-WESTERWINDS SERIES
Illinois State leads the all-time series with Western Illinois, 39-2. The Redbirds' winning percentage against the Westerwinds (.951) is their best against any team they have played more than five times. The series began in 1972 and ISU won the first 12 meetings before Western Illinois claimed its first victory in 1979. The Redbirds then rattled off 26-consecutive wins, including an 18-0 record in the `80's. This is the first meeting between the two teams since 2001.
BRACEY DOUBLES UP AGAIN...AND AGAIN...AND AGAIN
Sophomore forward Ashleen Bracey is enjoying the best four-game stretch of her career. Over the past three contests, Bracey is leading the Redbirds in scoring (16.0 ppg) and rebounding (10.0 rpg) while shooting an impressive .633 from the field (31-49). Her 31 field goals over that stretch are 12 more. She has recorded three double-doubles in the last four games, including 16 points and a career-high 11 rebounds against Miami (Ohio), which earned her the first Valley Player of the Week award of her career on Dec. 17. She is the first player with three double-doubles in four games since Kenyatta Shelton achieved the feat in 2006-07.
REDBIRDS DON'T BREAK STRIDE
After getting off to the second-best start in program history, ISU suffered its first loss of the season to nationally-ranked DePaul, 80-75. The loss did not slow down the Redbirds, however, as they are on a four-game winning streak since then. Over the last four games, ISU is averaging 78.5 ppg and is outscoring its opponents by an average of 19.8 points per game. The Redbirds have trailed for just 5:17 in the last four games.
DON'T HACK THE `BIRDS
One of the major factors for ISU's recent four-game winning streak has been the team's success at the free throw line. Over the first five games of the season, the Redbirds shot .637 from the free throw line (58-91). Over the past four games, that percentage has risen to .824 (42-51), including a 27-30 performance in the last two contests. ISU was a perfect 10-for-10 from the charity stripe against Ball State and junior guard Kristi Cirone made 5-of-6 free throws in the final 2:30 to help seal the victory over Miami (Ohio). Sophomore Nicolle Lewis has made her last 14-consecutive free throws with perfect performances against Ball State (6-6) and Miami (8-8).
ROAD WARRIORS
Illinois State is 6-0 away from Bloomington-Normal, its best road start ever. The Redbirds average around 78 points per game at home and on the road, but their scoring margin is nearly five points higher in road games (16.0-11.7). Senior guard Tiffany Hudson performs much better on the road, averaging 15.2 ppg as opposed to 10.0 ppg in Redbird Arena. Both of her 20-point games this season were on the road and 15 of her 18 three-point field goals on the season have come in road contests.
