Game 12: Illinois state vs. Northern Iowa |
Date: January 5 |
Time: 4:35 p.m. (CST) |
Location: Normal, Ill. |
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Twitter: @ISUwbb |
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NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois State women's basketball team returns to Redbird Arena to open Missouri Valley Conference play, as the Redbirds host Drake Friday at 7 p.m., and Northern Iowa Sunday at 4:35 p.m.
Illinois State is 20-10 all-time in Missouri Valley Conference openers and has won seven-straight. The last time ISU lost a conference opener was against Southern Illinois during the 2005-06 season, when the Salukis won, 87-65, at Redbird Arena. The Redbirds are looking to win their third-straight matchup against Drake and win their fourth-straight game against the Panthers.
Illinois State ended the non-conference season with a record of 1-9, as it took on two top-25 teams during the tough non-conference schedule. ISU is happy to open the conference season at home, after playing seven of its 10 non-conference games on the road or at neutral sites.
ILLINOIS STATE-DRAKE SERIES
Illinois State holds a slight advantage in the all-time series with a 34-33 record against Drake. The series began in 1981 and the two teams have met at least twice annually since 1984. ISU posted a 14-10 record against Drake through 1994. From 1995-2004, the
Bulldogs went 18-3 against ISU, including a 14-game winning streak. ISU is 15-5 against Drake since 2005, winning six-straight matchups before falling to Drake on Feb. 17, 2011, in Des Moines, Iowa. Illinois State leads the series 20-12 in games played in
Normal, Ill.
ILLINOIS STATE-NORTHERN IOWA SERIES
Illinois State leads the all-time series with Northern Iowa, 40-25. The series began in 1976 and is the fourth-longest in program history. ISU started the series with a 28-3 record, which included a 22-game winning streak. Since then, UNI holds a 24-18 advantage in the series. The Redbirds hold a three-game winning streak against the Panthers, the most since the 22-game win streak. ISU holds a convincing 24-9 record in games played in Normal, Ill. The last time ISU lost to UNI at home was March 1, 2009, in a 76-73 overtime loss.
HERE WE GO
With the non-conference schedule wrapped up, the Illinois State women's basketball team is ready to open the 2013-14 Missouri Valley Conference slate. The Redbirds hope to open the conference schedule with a win, like they have the last several seasons. ISU has opened Valley play with a win the last seven-consecutive seasons. The last time the `Birds opened the conference season with a loss was during the 2005-06 season, when they fell to Southern Illinois (Dec. 30), 87-65, in Redbird Arena.
TOUGH OPPONENTS
The Redbirds enter Missouri Valley Conference play with a 1-9 non-conference record, as they had one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the Valley. Two of ISU's losses came at the hands of ranked opponents. The Redbirds fell to then-No. 25 DePaul (Nov. 18), 80-67, and then-No. 14/13 Penn State (Nov. 30), 72-60, in the championship game of the Junkanoo Jam in Grand Bahama Island. Illinois State also fell to Princeton for the second-straight season, as the Tigers were a 2013 NCAA Tournament qualifier. The Redbirds' lone win came against SEC rival Florida (Nov. 29) by four points, 68-64. The 68 points is a season high for ISU.
LOOKING FOR A NEW STREAK
The Redbirds enter the Valley season on a six-game losing streak and hope to start the conference season off with a win. ISU's last victory came a month ago against Florida (Nov. 29) at the Junkanoo Jam in Grand Bahama Island. The last time the Redbirds lost six-straight games was during the 2005-06 season, as that losing streak lasted from Dec. 22, 2005, to Jan. 20, 2006.
THE DIFFERENCE
Illinois State and Denver both went 22-of-51 from the field, shooting 43.1 percent in ISU's 67-60 loss Monday (Dec. 30) in Redbird Arena. Even though the two teams shot the same from the field, Denver had a seven-point advantage, as it connected on one more three than the Redbirds. Fouls and free throws proved to be the difference of the game, as Denver committed 15 fouls compared to ISU's 24 fouls. With free throws from the fouls, the Pioneers sank six more free throws than the Redbirds to grab the win.
SIMILAR OPPONENTS
The Redbirds open Valley play this weekend, as they welcome Drake (Jan. 3) and Northern Iowa (Jan. 5). It will be the first time this season ISU has played both MVC foes, but Illinois State has faced several opponents that Drake and UNI also competed against so far during the 2013-14 season. Both Drake and ISU competed against Colorado State and Milwaukee in the non-conference season. Colorado State defeated Drake and ISU, but Drake was victorious over Milwaukee, while ISU fell to UWM. Northern Iowa and Illinois State both took on Northern Illinois. UNI defeated the Huskies, while ISU fell to its in-state rival.
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