NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's basketball team closes a four-game homestand against Wichita State Sunday. Tip is schedule for 2 p.m., as the Redbirds look for their first Missouri Valley Conference victory.
Taylor Stewart and Lexie Taylor each scored in double figures for Illinois State, but the Redbirds fell, 73-51, in their Missouri Valley Conference opener against Missouri State Friday on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.
Stewart led ISU with 14 points, which was nine above her season average. Taylor chipped in with a career-high 10 points and Katrina Beck added nine. Kenzie Williams recorded a game-high 23 points for Missouri State, while Tyonna Snow added 16. Illinois State held a 27-15 advantage in bench points, while Missouri State had a slight edge in rebounds, 35-30.
ILLINOIS STATE-WICHITA STATE SERIES
Illinois State leads the all-time series with Wichita State, 42-26. The series began in 1980 and the two teams have met twice annually since 1984. ISU won 15 of the first 17 meetings, with 10 victories coming by double-digits. Wichita State posted a 12-10 record against\ the Redbirds in the next 22 matchups. Since 2003, ISU is 16-12 against the Shockers, but Wichita State snapped a six-game losing streak to the Redbirds with a 59-56 home win on Jan. 16, 2011. In games played at Normal, Illinois, the Redbirds hold a 24-8 advantage.
PREPARING FOR CONFERENCE PLAY
Illinois State is no stranger to a tough non-conference schedule, and the 2015-16 season was no different. ISU played 11 games during the non-conference season, including five home contests and one exhibition game. DePaul appeared in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the second round, after winning the BIG EAST regular-season and tournament titles.
REDBIRDS PICKED 10TH IN MVC
The Illinois State women's basketball team was projected to finish 10th in the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Poll for the 2015-16 season, as voted on by the league's head coaches, sports information directors and media. Illinois State received 48 votes in the poll with its 10th-place selection, a change of pace since ISU has been picked in the top-five in 19 of the 33 preseason polls in conference history. It is the first time in school history that the Redbirds have been picked to finish 10th. The Redbirds were expected to finish ninth over five-straight seasons from 1999-2000 though the 2003-04 season. Missouri State is the preseason favorite to win the conference with 373 points and 22 first-place votes, and is followed by Drake with 347 points and 15 first-place votes. Northern Iowa (320), Southern Illinois (297) and Wichita State (214) round out the top-five teams, collecting one first-place vote apiece. Evansville is projected to finish sixth (182), with Indiana State (151) following in seventh place. Loyola (142) and Bradley (126) were selected to finish in eighth and ninth, respectively. Illinois State was selected to finish eighth prior to the 2014-15 season and ended the regular season in 10th place.
GOING FOR THE BALL
In ISU's last three games, the Redbirds have recorded double-digit steals. It is the first time this season ISU has had three-straight games with 10 or more steals. Against Chicago State (Dec. 21) and Missouri State (Jan. 1), the Redbirds recorded a season-high 12 steals. ISU grabbed 10 steals against Western Illinois (Dec. 28). Over three games, ISU is averaging 11.3 steals per game. On the season, Illinois State averages 9.5 steals per game.
NO MORE FAST BREAKS
Missouri State (Jan. 1) outscored the Redbirds, 25-13, in fast breaks. The 25 fast break points are the most by a Redbird opponent this season. Missouri State scored 22 fast break points over the first two quarters compared to ISU's six. UIC (Nov. 23) had 14 fast break points, which was the previous most by an ISU opponent.
SECOND CHANCES
On average, Illinois State trails opponents in total rebounds by two boards, but through 12 games, the Redbirds have pulled down 152 offensive boards, 13 more than their opponents. ISU is led by Viria Livingston in offensive rebounds with 26. ISU is averaging 12.7 offensive rebounds per game. The Redbirds have pulled down double-digit offensive rebounds in nine of their 12 games. Illinois State pulled down 18 offensive boards against Western Illinois (Dec. 28), tying the season high.
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