NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's basketball team held its first practice of the 2015-16 season Sunday in Redbird Arena.
Head coach Barb Smith returns for her third season at the helm of the Redbirds and is excited to get the season underway.
"I am thrilled to get back in the gym with our team," Smith said. "We have a lot of work to do, and I feel like our team is ready for the challenge. I like our attitude and work ethic right now. We are extremely motivated to get back to work. October is a big month for us, as we prepare for our home opener on November 4."
The roster includes four returners from last year's team. Among the returners is the Redbirds' leading rebounder from last season Octavia Crump, who led the Redbirds in five categories at the end of the 2014-15 season. Colleene Smith and Taylor Stewart also return for the 2015-16 season. Last season, Smith led the Redbirds in two rebounding categories, while Stewart led the team in assists. The team also welcomes seven newcomers, including four true freshmen, two transfers and a walk-on.
After playing 11 non-conference games, including five home contests and one exhibition game, ISU will open the 18-game Valley schedule with a pair of games at home against the Missouri State (Jan. 1) and Wichita State (Jan. 3). The Redbirds will then hit the road for three games against Indiana State (Jan. 10), Northern Iowa (Jan. 15) and Drake (Jan. 17). After the three-game road swing, Illinois State returns to Redbird Arena to welcome Bradley (Jan. 22) and Loyola (Jan. 24), before heading to Evansville (Jan. 29) and Southern Illinois (Jan. 31), closing out the first half of the Valley schedule.
Then, ISU will be back in Normal, Illinois, to begin the second half of the conference season with Indiana State (Feb. 7), Drake (Feb. 12) and Northern Iowa (Feb. 14). The Redbirds return to the road for four of their final six Valley games, as they head to Loyola (Feb. 19) and Bradley (Feb. 21), before returning to Redbird Arena to close out the regular-season home schedule against Southern Illinois (Feb. 25) and Evansville (Feb. 28). Illinois State will wrap up the conference slate with a pair of road games at Wichita State (March 3) and Missouri State (March 5).
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