NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's basketball team hosts Western Illinois in its final non-conference game of the 2015-16 season. Monday's game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., inside Redbird Arena.
The Redbirds are coming off of a 57-53 victory over Chicago State (Dec. 21). Octavia Crump scored a season-high 21 points in the win, as three players finished the game in double figures.
Crump led the way with 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting. Shakeela Fowler and Taylor Stewart each finished with 12 points apiece. The Redbirds shot a season-high 45.2 percent (19-of-42) from the field. ISU also forced 18 turnovers and converted those turnovers into 21 points.
REDBIRDS-LEATHERNECKS SERIES
Illinois State and Western Illinois will meet for the 43rd time in program history Monday night. ISU holds a convincing 40-2 lead in the series, including a 19-1 advantage of games played in Normal, Illinois. The last time the two teams played was during the 2007-08 season, when ISU defeated WIU, 69-56, in Redbird Arena on Dec. 19, 2007. The Leathernecks' two wins came on Jan. 31, 1979 and Nov. 29, 2000.
ABOUT WESTERN ILLINOIS
• Western Illinois is located in Macomb, Illinois, and has an enrollment of 11,094.
• The Leathernecks are members of the Summit League and finished the 2014-15 season tied for third place.
• The Leathernecks finished 17-13 last season with a conference record of 9-7.
• Western Illinois returns three starters from last season.
MORE BALANCED ATTACK
Against Chicago State (Dec. 21), three Redbirds scored in double figures, as Octavia Crump netted a season-high 21 points followed by Shakeela Fowler and Taylor Stewart scoring 12 points apiece. The last time ISU had three players in double figures was against Omaha (Nov. 29). Only one Redbird scored in double figures against DePaul (Dec. 5), Northern Illinois (Dec. 13) and Yale (Dec. 16.). Two players were in double figures versus SIUE (Dec. 1). Illinois State has had three players in double figures in four games so far this season.
SECOND CHANCES
On average, Illinois State trails opponents in total rebounds by three boards, but through 10 games, the Redbirds have pulled down 124 offensive boards, three more than their opponents. ISU is led by Colleene Smith and Viria Livingston in offensive rebounds with 18. ISU is averaging 12.4 offensive rebounds per game. The Redbirds have pulled down double-digit offensive rebounds in seven of their 10 games. Illinois State pulled down 17 offensive rebounds in back-to-back games, which is one board shy of its season-high 18.
D-E-F-E-N-S-E
In Illinois State's second win of the season, the Redbirds stepped up their defense against Chicago State (Dec. 21). ISU held CSU to 53 points, the fewest points allowed by an opponent during the 2015-16 season. The Redbirds held the Cougars to 16 points over the first two quarter, including seven first-quarter points.
FROM THE FIELD
Against Chicago State, the Redbirds shot a season-high 45 percent from the field. ISU was led by Octavia Crump, who shot 75 percent (9-of-12) from the field. Illinois State was 19-of-42, besting its previous high of 43 percent that came against Murray State (Nov. 18).
FINDING CRUMP
At Yale (Dec. 16), senior forward Octavia Crump was scoreless and held to 0-of-2 shooting from the field thanks to a double-team defense by the Bulldogs. Crump didn't let the scoreless night get to her, as she bounced back and netted a season-high 21 points in ISU's next game against Chicago State (Dec. 21). Crump's effort led to the Redbirds' second victory of the season. Crump was 9-of-12 from the field and sank three free throws to go along with five rebounds and three steals in 32 minutes. The nine made field goals tied a career high.
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