Feb. 22, 2007
Illinois State-Bradley Game Notes in PDF Format
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NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois State women's basketball team will look to sweep its second Missouri Valley Conference opponent of the season when the Redbirds visit rival Bradley in the second of a two-game season series Friday night. Tip-off from Robertson Memorial Field House is set for 8:05 p.m.
The Redbirds (17-8, 10-4 MVC) are coming off Sunday's 76-66 home loss to Indiana State, their fourth setback in the past five Valley games. Sophomore point guard Kristi Cirone poured in a game-high 24 points, and Nicolle Lewis added 19 points and seven rebounds, but Indiana State post players Rachel Maenpaa and Laura Rudolphi each tallied double-doubles and the `Birds were out-rebounded for the second consecutive game.
Illinois State led by as many as four points in the second half, but the Sycamores outscored the `Birds 29-15 in the final 10:27 to widen the scoring margin and post the win.
Illinois State head coach Robin Pingeton said that while the offense has been struggling, defense and rebounding are the two elements that the Redbirds need to improve upon down the stretch of the regular season.
"The biggest frustration I have right now is the amount of points we are giving up," said Pingeton. "Every team and most players go through scoring and shooting slumps, but you can't let that affect your defense. We have to re-commit ourselves to locking in defensively and get back to controlling the glass, where we were extremely successful in the first half of conference play. When you turn up the intensity on the defensive end, good things are going to happen for you offensively."
After a 3-7 start in Valley play, Bradley (11-15, 7-8 MVC) has won four of its last five games, including three in a row. Senior Erika Nelson continues to the Braves' offensive catalyst, averaging a MVC ninth-best 13.9 points per game. She also shoots at a .787 clip from the free throw line, and a .407 mark from beyond the three-point arc. Bradley is 7-5 at Robertson Memorial Field House this season.
In the last meeting between Redbirds and Bradley (Jan. 28), Illinois State struggled shooting a season-low 36 percent from the field, but overcame their own shooting woes by forcing the Braves to 18-of-63 from the floor and forcing 17 turnovers. Illinois State also held a 45-41 advantage on the glass, where junior Lashawn Johnson nabbed a team-best 11 rebounds. Senior Megan McCracken also grabbed a career-high nine rebounds.
Pingeton acknowledged that Bradley is a much more dangerous team than what they saw at Redbird Arena three weeks ago.
"This is another stepping stone for our program," Pingeton said. "We haven't won at Bradley in six years, but it seems like 16 years. For whatever reason, Robertson is a place that we have struggled. We have done some great things this season to help our program turn the corner, but another step in the direction of building our tradition and accomplishing our long term goals would be to get a win at Bradley, and that is not going to be an easy task. They are playing as well as anyone in this league right now."
Pingeton added that freshman Kenyatta Shelton is expected to receive elevated playing time in ISU's two games this season. Shelton returned to the Redbird lineup on Feb. 10 against Missouri State after missing the prior seven games with two stress fractures in her left foot. She has been limited to an average of 7.3 minutes per game off the Redbird bench.
"The goal is to get Kenyatta (Shelton) at least 20 minutes of playing time against Bradley. Just having another week of practice under her belt is going to be huge for us this weekend. Her condition and progression continues to be a week-by-week process. After sitting out for four weeks, it's tough to get your timing back. That's why our practices will continue to be key in trying to get her legs back."
Dating back to the 1983-84 season, Illinois State holds a decisive 31-17 all-time series lead over rival Bradley. The `Birds have won three of the last four meetings, and are 5-5 versus the Braves under Pingeton. ISU last won at Robertson Memorial Field House on Jan. 16, 2000.
