Redbirds to Play in Beach Classic at Long Beach

LONG BEACH, Calif. - The Illinois State Redbirds close out the non-conference schedule in sunny California as they take on Long Beach State for the first match of the Beach Classic Tournament in Long Beach, California on Wednesday. The team will return to Walter Pyramid on Thursday and the game will depend on Wednesday's results. A victory would put the Redbirds with a 4 p.m. CT tip-off and a loss would result in a 2 p.m. CT game. Northeastern and New Mexico State will play following the Redbirds on Wednesday at 7p.m. CT.

GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State Redbirds (4-5)) at Long Beach State (2-8)

Northeastern (4-5) New Mexico State (4-6)
When: Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017/ Thursday TBD

Consolation:  Thursday, Dec. 21  |  2 p.m. CST (12 p.m. PST)
Championship:  Thursday, Dec. 21  |  4 p.m. CST (3 p.m. PST)
Tip-Off: 5 p.m. CT
Location: Walter Pyramid

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Live Stats: http://bit.ly/2myUe9r

 THE SERIES

• Long Beach leads the series 2-1 dating back to as early as 1972.

• The teams most recently met in 1983 and the Redbirds dropped 105-63 at Long Beach.

• This is the first time Coach Gillespie and Coach Cammon will face each other.

• The Redbirds have never faced Northeastern or New Mexico State.

REDBIRD BITS

• Paige Saylor leads the Missouri Valley Conference, averaging 2.7 steals per game and has proven to be an all-around player as she led her team in scoring on Sunday vs. Cleveland State.

• The Redbirds look to capture their first road game victory during the Beach Classic.

• Katrina Beck has averaged 13.25 points per game within the last four games and scored in double digits in three games. Beck was named MVC player of the week for the first time in her career after she netted four three-pointers and secured her 500^th career point against Eastern Michigan.

• Simone Goods leads scoring efforts for the Redbirds, averaging 13.3 points per game and is tough on the glass grabbing 8.3 rebounds per game.

• 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 2.3 shots per game. She currently leads the MVC and 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).

 SCOUTING THE BEACH

• Long Beach is 0-4 in Walter Pyramid and looks to snap the streak at their home court during the Beach Classic.

• The Beach are 2-8 this season, with both wins in the state of Arizona. The team defeated Grand Canyon 63-55 and Arizona 80-72.

• Freshman Shanijah Davison leads her team averaging 13.1 points per game. Davison has had top-notch performances this season scoring 20 plus points in three games and scoring in double figures in six games.

• The Long Beach roster consists of 10 underclassmen out of the 14 total. Two freshman lead the team in scoring including, Davison and Ma'Qhi Berry.

• Berry boasts a 49.4 field goal percentage and leads the Beach with 35 assists.

 SCOUTING THE HUSKIES

• Northeastern recently snapped a three-game losing streak as the team defeated Vermont on Sunday. The team is 4-5 overall and looks to hit .500 at the Beach Classic this week.

• Junior guard Jess Genco leads the Huksies in scoring, averaging 14.3 points per game. This season she has netted 30-of-75 behind the arc (40.0 percent) and is 41.7 percent from the field.

• Lauren Lassiter and Gabby Giacone lead the team in rebounding, averaging 8.4 and 8.1 rebounds per game respectively.

SCOUTING THE AGGIES

• New Mexico State enters the tournament after defeating Pepperdine 86-64 to bring their overall record to 4-6.

• The Aggies share a prior opponent with Long Beach this season, but had a very different outcome. The team dropped to Arizona last week with a deficit of 39 points.

• Junior Brooke Salas is a double threat, averaging 19.9 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per game. Sophomore Gia Peck is right behind her with 15.2 points per game and 7.7 rebounds per game.

MILESTONE WATCH

• Hannah Green has a career total of 96 blocks, which ties for third most in ISU history. Nicole Lewis leads with 260, followed by Leslie Ferrell with 177.

DEFENSIVE STRENGTH      

The Redbirds lead the MVC and are ranked 12^th in the nation for their defensive efforts, holding their opponents to 54.0 points per game. They are ranked 8^th in the nation for opponent field goal percentage, with their opponents averaging 33.1 percent from the field.

NEXT UP

The Redbirds return home on New Year's Eve to open conference play against Bradley University beginning at 11 a.m.