Jan. 23, 2009
| SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (4-11, 0-6 MVC) at ILLINOIS STATE (14-4, 5-1 MVC) |
| Date |
Saturday, Jan. 24 |
| Game Time |
12:05 p.m. |
| Location |
Normal, Ill. (Redbird Arena)
|
| Radio |
WJBC
(R.C. McBride - Play-by-Play | Jill Hutchsion - color commentary) |
Live Video |
Redbird All-Access |
| Live Stats |
GoRedbirds.com |
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Shala Jackson – G – ILLINOIS STATE
Jackson has stepped up big the last three games, averaging 15.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. She scored a career-high 21 points to lead the Redbirds over Missouri State and posted her second double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Evansville.
ERICA SMITH – G – SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
Smith leads the Salukis in scoring (12.7 ppg), assists (46) and steals (28). Even though she is a guard, Smith is second on the team with 5.4 rebounds per game, a category she led the team in the last two seasons. She averaged 3.5 assists per game against the Redbirds last season.
FASTBREAK POINTS
ISU is 6-0 at home this season and outscoring its opponents by 57.3 points per game at Redbird Arena … ISU has lost three-straight home games to the Salukis … SIU is 1-12 in its last 13 valley regular season games, with its only win coming against ISU at Redbird Arena March 6, 2008 (72-69).
REDBIRDS-SALUKIS SERIES
Illinois State leads the all-time series with Southern Illinois, 42-38 … The Redbirds dominated the series early on, posting a 27-10 through 1990. Southern Illinois Won 15 of the next 16 meetings, winning 10 games by double-digits. Since 1996, each team has won 14 times. Robin Pingeton is 7-4 all-time against the Salukis.
LAST YEAR VS. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
Both ISU and SIU won on the road in the regular season last year. ISU defeated the Salukis, 77-65, in the quarterfinals of the State Farm MVC Tournament. Kristi Cirone averaged 23.7 points per game against the Salukis last year. Nicolle Lewis averaged 11.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game against the Salukis. Kenyatta Shelton pulled down a team-best 8.3 rebounds.
CIRONE LENDS A HELPING HAND
When senior Kristi Cirone found sophomore Emily Hanley for a short jumper in the first half against Evansville Jan.22, it put the Redbirds ahead 24-17, but the play also held a more significant role in history. That assists was the 584th of Cirone’s career, moving her past Denise Norton for the all-time lead at Illinois State. Cirone achieved the feat by recording 100 assists in all four seasons, including two years in the top-10. Norton holds three of the top-five single-season assist marks in ISU history. Cirone is currently in third place in the Valley in career assists (587), trailing only Missouri State’s Tina Robbins (657) and Indiana State’s Melanie Boeglin (685).
FANTASTIC FIVE
The Redbirds have used the starting lineup of senior Kristi Cirone, juniors Ashleen Bracey, Maggie Krick and Nicolle Lewis and sophomore Shala Jackson for most of the season and the group has led the Redbirds all year. They make up the top-five ISU scorers and rebounders and one of the players has led the team in scoring every game this season. In games that with this starting lineup, ISU is 12-1, averaging 773. points per game and allowing just 58.5 points per game. The quintet produces 77 percent of the Redbird offense as a starting unit.
