NORMAL, Ill. -
Nov. 30, 2011
The Illinois State women’s basketball team will travel to Tempe, Ariz., to compete in the ASU Classic (Dec. 2-3). The Redbirds are scheduled to take on Arkansas State, Friday, at 1:30 p.m. (CST) in Wells Fargo Arena. Depending on the outcome of the game, ISU will face either Arizona State or Eastern Washington Saturday.
On Monday (Nov. 28), the Redbirds (3-2) defeated Illinois-Chicago, 77-56, in Redbird Arena. ISU was led by senior guard Katie Broadway, who scored a career-high 26 points, shooing 9-of-15 from the field and went 5-of-8 from behind the arc. It marked the third time in five games that Broadway had scored 20 or more points this season. Jamie Russell also had a record setting night with a career-high nine assists. Russell was named the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week (Nov. 28) for her performances from the week prior, which included a career-high 30-point game against Eastern Illinois.
Friday’s game against the Red Wolves will be the first game between the two schools in both programs’ history. If ISU faces Eastern Washington Saturday, it will also mark the first meeting between the two teams. Illinois State has faced Arizona State four times. ASU holds a 3-1 advantage in the all-time series. The last time the two teams faced off was 15 years ago (Nov. 27, 1996), when the Redbirds defeated the Sun Devils, 72-66, in Normal, Ill.
REDBIRDS IN ARIZONA
The Redbirds are set to compete in the ASU Classic on Dec. 2-3, in Tempe, Ariz., but it isn’t the first time ISU has competed in the Grand Canyon state. Illinois State holds a 1-2 record of games played in Arizona. During the 1984-85 season, the Redbirds faced Arizona State and Arizona on Dec. 21 and Dec. 22, respectively. The Redbirds topped the Wildcats, 69-55, and then lost to the Sun Devils 91-70. Illinois State returned to Arizona a decade later during the 1994-95 season, when it fell to ASU, 71-68.
ANOTHER VALLEY HONOR
Jamie Russell has been a consistent offensive threat for Illinois State, which hasn’t gone unnoticed, as she was named the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week (Nov. 28). She had a career-high 30-point game against Eastern Illinois (Nov. 21) in 28 minutes of play. Despite falling to the Panthers, 83-69, Russell sank 28 of her 30 points in the second half. In ISU’s home-opening win against Northern Illinois (Nov. 26), 81-62, Russell netted nine points, dished out six assists and grabbed a career-high seven rebounds in 34 minutes. Through five games, Russell is the second-leading scorer on the team, averaging 14.0 points per game. She is 25-of-57 from the field, shooting 44 percent. The junior transfer also leads the Redbirds in assists (27) and steals (9). Maddie Oliver also received the award on Nov. 14.
LIVE ON BROADWAY
Katie Broadway is the most consistent offensive threat for the Redbirds, as she has recorded double-digit performances in each of ISU’s five games during the 2011-12 season. She continues to prove just how dangerous she can be, as the senior guard scored a career-high 26 points in the Redbirds’ 77-56 win over Illinois Chicago. Broadway was 9-of-15 from the field and went 5-of-8 from behind the arc. It marked the third time in five games that Broadway had scored 20 or more points. She also netted 20-point games at Northwestern (Nov. 17) and Eastern Illinois (Nov. 21). The senior guard leads the team in scoring with 91 points, averaging to 18.2 points per game. Broadway is nearly perfect from the free throw line, shooting 11-of-12 (.917).
ENOUGH TO GO AROUND
Jamie Russell set a career-high nine assists in ISU’s 77-56 victory over Illinois-Chicago. She leads the team with 27 assists through five games, which averages out to 5.4 assists per game. If Russell maintains 5.4 assists per game, she will end the regular season with 162 assists it would place her in the top-10 single season assist leaders.
BALANCED SCORING ATTACK
The Redbirds are scoring 70.4 points per game through five games and Illinois State has had a balanced scoring threat during the 2011-12 season. Six Redbirds have recorded double-digit scoring performances, including Katie Broadway, Marley Hall, Alexis Jenkins and Jamie Russell, who have multiple double-digit efforts. Broadway, Russell and Sykes have each tallied 20-plus point games, and Russell scored 30 points against Eastern Illinois (Nov. 21).
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