Feb. 14, 2008
NORMAL, Ill. -
The second installment of the Missouri Valley Conference ISU's in women's basketball is the MVC Game of the Week as Illinois State (19-3, 9-2 MVC) visits Indiana State (10-11, 4-7 MVC) on Friday, Feb. 15, at 7:35 p.m. CST. The game will be broadcast live on FSN Midwest, with Mitch Holthus and former Redbird head coach Jill Hutchison providing the commentary. The Redbirds will vie for their first season sweep of the Sycamores since the 1995-96 season after topping them at Redbird Arena, 77-70, on Jan. 19. A victory would also secure the 11th 20-win season in school history and the first consecutive 20-win campaigns since 1988-90.
"Indiana State is always a tough rivalry game for us," said head coach Robin Pingeton. "Even though they lost last weekend to Bradley and Northern Iowa, I know they will be ready to play and give us everything they have, which is what they have always done since I've been here. There are always big crowds when we play there and Friday night is Indiana State's Think Pink game, which I'm sure will increase the attendance. We want to build off the Bradley win and find some more consistency in our game as we head down the final stretch of the conference season."
THE REDBIRDS-SYCAMORES SERIES
Illinois State leads the all-time series with Indiana State, 36-32. The Redbirds' longest winning streak in the series was 12 games, spanning from 1980-87, but the Sycamores had an equally impressive streak from 1997-2001, winning 10-straight matchups. That streak started a trend of recent dominance for the Sycamores, who have won 17 of the last 27 meetings. Illinois State is 13-16 on the road against Indiana State and Pingeton is 6-5 all-time against the Sycamores.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
The Redbirds are 3-0 in televised games this season. Both 33-point Redbird wins over Bradley were shown locally on WTVP. The Redbirds beat Missouri State on Jan. 25, 95-59, in their first MVC Game of the Week this season. ISU's games at Creighton and Drake were selected as a part of the Valley's Wildcard Weekend and will be broadcast on FSN Midwest, Fox College Sports and Comcast SportsNet Chicago.
KRICK PROVIDES OFFENSIVE PUNCH
Over the last six games, sophomore guard Maggie Krick has been one of the Redbirds' most consistent offensive threats. Krick is averaging 14.0 ppg and 5.8 rpg, both the second-best averages on the team during that stretch. She has scored in double figures four times with 25 points at Missouri State (1/25), 11 points at Wichita State (1/27), 17 points vs. Creighton (2/2) and 18 points vs. Bradley (2/10). Krick has made a team-best 15 three-pointers in the last six games, including seven at Missouri State, which tied the school record.
