NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois State Redbirds return to action on Sunday as they host the Cleveland State Vikings with a tip-off time set for 2 p.m.
GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State Redbirds (4-4) vs Cleveland State (6-3)
When: Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017
Tip-Off: 2 p.m.
Location: Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena
HOLIDAY SPIRIT
• This Sunday all fans attending are encouraged to sport a holiday-themed sweater. Both coaching staffs are joining in on the fun and will be rocking their sweaters on the sidelines. Participating fans may be selected into the Holiday sweater contest and earn a chance to win prizes. Holiday cookie specials will also be available for purchase at the concession stands.
THE SERIES
• Cleveland State leads the series 1-0 dating back to as early as 2009.
• The teams have only met once and the Vikings captured an 81-61 victory in the preseason WNIT.
• This is the first time Coach Gillespie and Kate Peterson Abiad will face each other.
• The Redbirds are 1-2 this season when facing a Horizon League opponent.
REDBIRD BITS
• The Redbirds come to the game after defeating Eastern Michigan on Sunday 65-56.The Redbirds are 4-4 this season with all wins taking place in Redbird Arena.
• The Redbirds dropped a 61-59 decision to Milwaukee on Thursday in overtime. The last time the Redbirds played past regulation was March 10, 2016. Illinois State dropped 61-59 in overtime against Evansville in the MVC tournament. This game was also the tightest deficit the team has seen since the Evansville game in 2016.
• Illinois State put up 20 points in the second quarter against the Milwaukee Panthers. This is the most points the team has netted in a quarter this season.
• Within the first five games under Kristen Gillespie's direction, three returning Redbirds have secured a new career-high in points.
Hannah Green – 20 points (15)
Viria Livingston – 17 points (15)
Megan Talbot – 17 points (14)
• Green has proven to be a defensive threat this season, blocking 2.63 shots per game. After Sunday's performance, Green is ranked 23rd in the nation and leads the MVC. She has a season high of five blocks in a game and a career high of eight blocks in a game. Last season, Green claimed a spot in the ISU record books, as she is first all-time in blocked shots per game (2.9) and second all-time for blocked shots in a season (75).
• Paige Saylor leads the Missouri Valley Conference, averaging 3.0 steals per game and is in the top 50 in the nation.
SCOUTING THE VIKINGS
• The Vikings are entering the game with a record of 6-3 after facing a 65-56 loss to Toledo on Saturday.
• Ashanti Abshaw leads the Vikings, averaging 20.3 points per game and 3.4 rebounds per game.
• Olivia Voskuhl is also a consistent scorer for the Vikings, averaging 13.2 points per game. She is 11th in the Horizon League and has tallied double-digit points in all but one game this season.
• Shadae Bosley has frustrated her opponents this season, blocking 2.2 shots per game this season. Bosley leads the Horizon League in this statistic category.
• The Vikings were tabbed sixth in the Horizion Preseason Poll behind prior ISU opponents, Milwaukee and Oakland.
• Head Coach, Kate Peterson Abiad enters her 15th season at the helm of the women's basketball program and has a record of 193-244 at Cleveland State. She became the winningest coach in program history in 2011-2012.
SHARING THE GLORY
• Three Redbirds put up double digits in the overtime loss to Milwaukee and the win over Eastern Michigan. This is the third time this season that this has happened.
MILESTONES
• Katrina Beck secured her 500th career point in the 65-56 win over Eastern Michigan on Sunday. She tied her career high of 3-pointers in a game as she netted four 3-pointers, going 4-for-6 from the arc.
• Hannah Green currently sits at 96 career blocks, which ties for the third most in ISU history. Nicole Lewis leads with 260, followed by Leslie Ferrell with 177.
NEXT UP
The Redbirds travel to the West Coast to compete in the Beach Classic, hosted by Long Beach State. The Redbirds are scheduled for a 5 p.m. CT tip-off against Long Beach on Wednesday and will play again on Thursday depending the result.
