Illinois State-Wichita State Game Notes in PDF Format
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Feb. 11, 2007
NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois State women's basketball team will look to complete its first road sweep of both Missouri State and Wichita State since the 2002-03 season when the Redbirds visit the Shockers in a rare Monday night Missouri Valley Conference contest. Tip-off from Charles Koch Arena is set for 7:00 p.m.
The Redbirds (17-6, 10-2 MVC) are coming off Saturday's 65-48 win at Missouri State. The Redbirds put three players in double figures, led by Kristi Cirone's 19 points. Junior Ashley Sandstead, making her first start of the season, chipped in 13 points on a 5-of-8 shooting effort, and center Nicolle Lewis recorded 13 points to go along with six rebounds.
ISU collected a season-high 53 rebounds in the game, and held the Bears to a 31.3 percent shooting effort. The win marked the Redbirds' 17th win overall, and their tenth Valley triumph, matching ISU's highest single-season victory output since the 1996-97 campaign.
Wichita State (8-13, 3-8 MVC) has lost three of its last four MVC contests, including Saturday's 73-56 setback to visiting Indiana State. The Shockers lead the league in offensive rebounds (14.71 rpg), and rank second behind Illinois State in rebounding margin (+2.6) and defensive rebounds (25.62 rpg). Preseason all-Valley selection Antionette Wells' 10.9 rebounds per game (11.2 in MVC play) lead the conference. She also ranks sixth in the MVC with a .544 shooting percentage.
In the last meeting between the `Birds and Shockers, Nicolle Lewis and Megan McCracken each tallied 16-point individual efforts in a dominating 87-73 ISU win at Redbird Arena on Jan. 11. Illinois State led by as many as 36 points in the first half, and stretched the advantage to as many as 40 points early in the second stanza.
Illinois State leads the all-time series against Wichita State, 32-17 (.653), its largest series winning percentage over a current member of the Valley. The Redbirds have also claimed four of the last five meetings. ISU head coach Robin Pingeton is 5-2 versus Wichita State in her three-plus years at the helm.
