Redbirds Visit Indiana State For Third Valley Game

Jan. 7, 2011

REDBIRDS-SYCAMORES SERIES
Illinois State leads the all-time series with Indiana State, 42-34. The series, which began in 1972, is the second-longest in Illinois State history. Illinois State started out with a 30-16 record against Indiana State, including a string of 12-straight wins from 1980-87. Indiana State then won 13 of the next 14 meetings. Illinois State is 11-4 in the last 15 matchups, including four-consecutive victories. Last season, ISU swept the season series and beat the Sycamores, 76-39, in the MVC Tournament semifinals. Illinois State is 15-17 all-time against Indiana State on the road, including losses in nine of its last 13 trips to the Hulman Center.

LAST TIME OUT
Illinois State jumped out to a 19-2 lead to start the game and cruised to a 73-51 win over Northern Illinois in the final non-conference game of the season Jan. 31. ISU held NIU to just 19 points in the first half and led by as many as 24 points. In the second half, the Redbird lead stretched to 27 before a field goal drought of nearly six minutes let NIU go on a 16-4 run. The deficit was too much to overcome and the Redbirds regained their 20-point cushion with a 10-1 spurt at the end of the game. Katie Broadway scored a game-high 18 points, Hannah Spanich had 16 points, six rebounds, five blocks and three steals, and Marley Hall scored a career-high 10 points off the bench.

WE’RE GOING STREAKING
Illinois State is currently on a five-game winning streak; its longest of the season. In those five games, Illinois State is averaging 72.8 points per game, shooting 45.9 percent from the field and outscoring its opponents by an average of 12.0 points per game. The Redbirds have held all five opponents under 70 points and to a combined shooting percentage of 37.0 percent. The streak includes four wins in the span of seven days.

OFF TO A GOOD START
Illinois State started Valley play with home wins over Bradley and Northern Iowa over New Year’s weekend. The Redbirds have opened Valley play with two wins for the 13th time in program history and the fourth time in the last five seasons. In each of the 12 previous 2-0 starts, ISU has finished above .500 in conference play, including nine years with at least 13 wins. ISU has gone 3-0 in the conference nine times; most recently in 2008.

ISU HONORS IN VALLEY PLAY
Emily Hanley won the first MVC Player of the Week award by a Redbird this season on Monday and it’s fitting that it came after the first weekend of conference play. Over the last three seasons, Illinois State has won nine of the 20 MVC Player of the Week awards given out during conference play, more than any other team during that stretch. Kristi Cirone won four during the 2008-09 season and Ashleen Bracey also won four last year.

TAKING CARE OF THE ROCK
So far this season, Illinois State has struggled taking care of the basketball, averaging 14.9 turnovers per game. The Redbirds have committed double-digit turnovers in every game except the win over UAB, when they had nine. Redbird opponents are taking full advantage of the miscues, averaging 14.8 points off turnovers per game. On the flipside, the Redbirds’ ability to force turnovers has contributed to their recent winning streak. ISU is averaging 16.6 turnovers forced and 7.6 steals per game in the last five games. Northern Iowa came into its game against ISU ranked second in the nation with only 12.6 turnovers per game. ISU forced the Panthers into 19 turnovers and scored 23 points off those turnovers.

SPANICH LESSONS
Hannah Spanich has shown a resurgence in the last three games, averaging 15.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 1.3 steals per game. Her shooting has been outstanding, with a field goal percentage of 56 percent and a three-point field goal percentage of 60 percent. Both of those numbers don’t match her performance from the free throw line, where she has made 17-consecutive shots. Spanich scored 18 points against Bradley, the most she has ever scored as a Redbird, and had a career-high five blocks against Northern Illinois, which is tied for the sixth-most in ISU single-game history.

HANLEY STEPPING UP
Emily Hanley is taking full advantage of her bigger role this season. In her first two seasons with the Redbirds, Hanley averaged 4.6 points and 3.1 rebounds per game in 14.3 minutes per contest. This season, Hanley has started all 13 games, averaging 14.7 points and 8.7 rebounds in 31.0 minutes per game. She leads the Redbirds in scoring and field goal percentage (.546) and ranks second in rebounding. She ranks in the top-10 in the Valley in all three categories and earned the first MVC Player of the Week Award of her career Jan. 3.

INCREASED STAMINA
The Illinois State starters must have stepped up their cardio workouts over the summer to prepare for the increased floor time this season. All five Redbird starters are averaging above 24 minutes per game, which isn’t uncommon for a basketball team. However, aside from Amanda Clifton, each of the Redbird starters is averaging over 10 minutes more minutes played per game than last season (2008-09 for Kenyatta Shelton).

BENCHMARKS
The Redbird bench has provided more than raucous cheering and enthusiasm this year. ISU’s bench is averaging 23.1 points per game, scoring in double-figures in every game, and has outscored the opponent’s bench nine times. Shala Jackson is ISU’s third-leading scorer, averaging 10.1 points per game, despite not starting yet this season.

WELL-BALANCED DIET
The Illinois State offense is the perfect example of the importance of a well-balanced diet. Last season, ISU ranked second in the MVC in scoring (69.0 ppg) and received nearly half of its offensive production from three players - Ashleen Bracey, Maggie Krick, Nicolle Lewis. This year, the Redbirds lead the Valley in scoring (75.9 ppg) by virtue of five players scoring at least eight points per game. The Redbirds have had at least three players score in double-figures in 10 games this season. Five different players have led the team in scoring in a game and four players have scored in double-figures at least six times.