March 31, 2009
| 2009 POSTSEASON WNIT SEMIFINALS |
| ILLINOIS STATE (27-7) at KANSAS (21-13) |
| Date |
Wednesday, April 1 |
| Game Time |
7 p.m. |
| Location |
Lawrence, Kan. (Allen Fieldhouse)
|
| Radio |
WJBC
(R.C. McBride - Play-by-Play | Jill Hutchison - color commentary) |
Live Video |
Redbird All-Access |
| Live Stats |
GoRedbirds.com |
| Live Blog |
Redbird Women's Basketball Gameday Blog |
| Game Notes |
Illinois State l Kansas |
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kenyatta Shelton - F
Shelton has returned to the starting lineup for ISU’s run through the WNIT and is providing a spark down low. After averaging 3.2 rebounds per game during the first 31 games of the year, Shelton is averaging 9.7 rebounds in the three WNIT games. Shelton had a career-high 12 rebounds against Marquette and Indiana.
DANIELLE MCCRAY – G/F
McCray is the clear-cut leader of the Jayhawks, leading the team in scoring (21.1 ppg), three-point field goal percentage (.434), free throw percentage (.835), rebounding (7.9), blocks (32) and steals (48). A first-team All-Big 12 selection and three-time Big 12 Player of the Week, McCray is averaging 30.7 points and 10.0 rebounds in the WNIT. She had 32 points and nine rebounds against New Mexico Monday night.
FASTBREAK POINTS
Illinois State is playing in April for the first time ever … ISU’s 27 wins this year are the second-most in program history … The Redbirds have posted 25 wins in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history … Illinois State is making its first appearance in the semifinals of the Postseason WNIT … The WNIT semifinals is the farthest the Redbirds have advanced in a national postseason tournament … ISU is the fifth MVC team to reach the WNIT Semifinals, the first since Missouri State in 2005.
WNIT NOTABLES
Illinois State has won three postseason games for the first time ever … ISU beat La Tech for the first time ever (1-5) … Marquette was the defending WNIT champion … Kristi Cirone was 13-for-13 from the free throw line against Marquette, a career-high mark and the second-most free throws made by a Redbird in a WNIT game … Kenyatta Shelton (12 vs. Marquette and Indiana) and Nicolle Lewis (11 vs. La Tech, 13 vs. Indiana) have both pulled recorded two double-digit rebounding games … ISU has made more than 20 free throws against Marquette (20) and Indiana (23) … The ISU-Marquette game had 15 ties and 21 lead changes … The ISU Indiana game had six ties and 12 lead changes..
REDBIRDS-JAYHAWKS SERIES
Kansas leads the all-time series, 3-0. The two teams first met in 1975, a 67-55 Kansas win. Kansas won the next meeting in 1994, 95-74, in the Kansas Dial Classic. The Jayhawks came to Redbird Arena the following season, winning 91-66.
REDBIRDS VS. THE BIG 12
Illinois State is 11-29 (.275) all-time against the Big 12. The Redbirds have faced every team from the Big 12 except Texas A&M. ISU has never beaten Baylor (0-1), Kansas (0-3), Nebraska (0-1), Oklahoma (0-3) and Texas Tech (0-1). ISU’s last win over a Big 12 team came against Missouri, 82-70, Nov. 24, 1996.
CIRONE EYES SINGLE-SEASON RECORDS
Not that she needed more accolades to add to her lengthy resume, but senior Kristi Cirone is in line to set two ISU single-season records. Cirone is currently second in single-season scoring (633), behind Cathy Boswell’s record 649 points in 1980-81. She is averaging 19.6 points over the last eight games. Cirone is also second in single-season assists (199), just four behind Denise Norton’s record 200 assists from 1980-81. GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, TRC gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
