NORMAL, Ill. – After starting the 2014-15 season with a pair of road games, the Illinois State women's basketball team will open its home schedule at Redbird Arena Wednesday night, as it hosts Northern Kentucky. Tip is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The contest marks the second-straight year the two teams have met.
Illinois State and Northern Kentucky will meet for the sixth time in program history Wednesday night at 7 p.m., at Redbird Arena. NKU has a slight lead in the overall series, 3-2, which began during the 1980-81 season. Northern Kentucky won the first two games, while ISU won the next two games. The two teams met last season for the first time in over three decades, when the Norse defeated the Redbirds, 61-48, in Highland Heights, Ky.
At Wisconsin (Nov. 16), Katy Winge poured in a career-high 25 points, including 20 in the second half, but her effort wasn't enough, as ISU couldn't overcome a 30-point deficit and fell to the Badgers, 71-60, at the Kohl Center. Winge sank four three pointers and was a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line during her career performance. The Redbirds scored just 21 first-half points, but they regrouped and scored 39 points after the half. Illinois State connected on 35 percent of its field goal attempts, while Wisconsin found the bottom of the net on 41 percent of its shot attempts. The Badgers had a slight advantage on the boards, pulling down 43 rebounds compared to the Redbirds' 41.
ABOUT NORTHERN KENTUCKY
• Northern Kentucky is located in Highland Heights, Kentucky, and has an enrollment of 15,750.
• The Norse are members of the Atlantic Sun Conference and finished the 2013-14 season in third place.
• The Norse finished 18-13 last season with a conference record of 13-5.
• Northern Kentucky was picked to finish third in the Atlantic Sun preseason poll.
THREE IN SIX
After falling to Northern Illinois (Nov. 14) and Wisconsin (Nov. 19), the Redbirds move on to their third and final game in just six days. Illinois State hosts Northern Kentucky Wednesday (Nov. 19) to open its 2014-15 home campaign. The three games in six days will be the quickest turn-around for the Redbirds this season.
COMEBACKS FALL SHORT
Despite overcoming a 12-point deficit and pulling within one point late in the second half, Illinois State came up short in its season-opener against in-state rival Northern Illinois (Nov. 14), as the Redbirds fell, 55-51, at the Convocation Center. Katy Winge led ISU with 12 points, with 10 coming in the first half. Winge scored back-to-back jumpers to get ISU within nine, but NIU regrouped and took its largest lead of the half, 30-18, with 3:22 remaining before the break. Then, Illinois State went to work and chipped away at the Northern Illinois lead, cutting the advantage to one, 47-46, with 3:19 to play off of a three by Stekara Hall. Northern Illinois scored six-straight points, but a three in the corner by Mackenzie Freeman brought ISU within two, 53-51, with 40 seconds left. A pair of Huskie free throws sealed the win for Northern Illinois, as Illinois State fell in its season opener, 55-51. With only a day rest, ISU went back to work against Wisconsin Sunday (Nov. 16). Winge poured in a career-high 25 points, including 20 in the second half, but her effort wasn't enough, as Illinois State couldn't overcome a 30-point deficit and fell, 71-60, at the Kohl Center. Wisconsin came out strong in the second half, as it opened with a 20-3 run to take a 54-24 lead eight minutes into the second half. The 30-point margin was the Badgers' largest lead in the game. Then, Winge brought life back to the Redbirds, as she scored 13-straight points, including three shots beyond the arc, 60-37, with eight minutes remaining in the game. Winge's hot streak continued, as she scored seven-straight points with 3:45 left to play. The Redbirds battled back late in the game and pulled within 11 points, but they couldn't overcome the deficit and fell to the Badgers, 71-60
STELLAR SECOND HALF
At Wisconsin (Nov. 16), the Redbirds trailed the Badgers, 34-21, at the half. The 13-point advantage was the largest lead of the first half, as the Redbirds were scoreless over the final two minutes of play. The second half didn't start off the way the Redbirds were hoping, as Wisconsin came out strong and used a 20-3 run to take a 54-24 lead eight minutes into the second half. The 30-point margin was the Badgers' largest lead in the game and with just 12 minutes remaining in the contest, Illinois State had some work to do. Katy Winge brought life back to the Redbirds, as she scored 13-straight points, including three shots beyond the arc, 60-37, with eight minutes remaining in the game. Then, Winge's hot streak continued, as she scored seven-straight points with 3:45 left to play. The Redbirds battled back late in the game and pulled within 11 points, but the effort wasn't enough, as they couldn't overcome the deficit and fell to the Badgers, 71-60. ISU only scored 21 points in the first half, but netted 39 points in the second half, outscoring Wisconsin, 39-37, after the break.
BETTER THE SECOND TIME
In ISU's loss at Northern Illinois (Nov. 14), the Redbirds committed 15 turnovers, allowing 14 NIU points to be scored. However, Illinois State adjusted before its next game at Wisconsin (Nov. 16), as ISU committed only eight turnovers. ISU also improved in the offensive boards category, as the Redbirds pulled down just six against NIU, and doubled that number against Wisconsin, pulling down 12 offensive rebounds. Another improved statistic was the team's free throw percentage. Not only did the Redbirds get to the line more against Wisconsin, but they also sank 77 percent of their free throw shots, which improved from the 50 percent they made at NIU.
STRONG SOPHOMORES
Despite the outcome of the Redbirds' season-opener against Northern Illinois (Nov. 14), Illinois State saw a couple players set new career-bests, as both Zenobia Bess and Taylor Stewart set two new marks. Bess pulled down a career-best five rebounds, as well as recording a career-best four blocks against Northern Illinois. Then, Stewart stepped up and took control of the point guard spot, as she scored 11 points and dished out five assists, both career highs.
THE CHARITY STRIPE AND THE BOARDS
The difference in ISU's four-point loss at Northern Illinois (Nov. 14) could be summed up in two categories: free throws and rebounds. The Huskies outrebounded the Redbirds by seven, 44-37, including 14 offensive boards for NIU compared to ISU's six. The Huskies also had the advantage at the free throw line, sinking 11 more free throws than the Redbirds. Northern Illinois scored 16 points at the free throw line, while Illinois State only added five points.
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