NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois State Redbirds look to capture their fourth straight home victory on Sunday as they take on the Butler Bulldogs. The last time ISU opened the season 3-0 at home was the 2010-2011 season.
GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State Redbirds (3-2) vs. Butler Bulldogs (4-4)
When: Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017
Tip-Off: 2 p.m.
Location: Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena
THE SERIES
• Illinois State leads the series 3-2 dating back to as early as 2001.
• The teams most recently met in 2014 at Redbird Arena and the Redbirds dropped to Butler 72-60.
• This is the first time Coach Gillespie and Coach Godlevske will face each other.
SETTING THE TABLE
• The Redbirds are currently ranked sixth in the nation and first in the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring defense, after only allowing an average of 51.4 points per game.
• Hannah Green was named the MVC Player of the Week on November 27 following her career-best performance against UMKC on Sunday. Green added 20 points to put the Redbirds ahead of the Roos 64-53. Green is also first in the MVC and eighth in the nation for blocked shots per game, averaging 3.2.
• Paige Saylor leads the MVC and is in the top 50 in the nation averaging three steals per game.
• Viria Livingston stepped up on Thursday as she put up a career high of 17 points. She now has a career total of 306 points.
• The Redbirds are 3-0 at home and 0-2 on the road. The last time ISU opened the season 3-0 at home was the 2010-2011 season.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
• Butler enters the game after coming off tough 87-75 loss to Ball State bringing their overall record
• The Bulldogs recently put up a season high of 27 points in the first quarter against Ball State.
• Whitney Jennings has proven to be an offensive threat, scoring 20 points in five of BU's eight games, her season high is 30.
• Tori Schickel was named to the Paradise Jam All-Tournament Team and has scored in double digits in seven games. She has also added four double-doubles for the Bulldogs and leads her team in rebounds averaging 11.4 per game. Schickel is tied 17th in the nation for rebounds per game and broke the Butler single season record last year grabbing 364 rebounds.
BROTHERHOOD TREE TOY DRIVE
Fans are encouraged to bring a new unwrapped toy for the annual WJBC Brotherhood Tree Toy Drive. There will be boxes placed at each entrance of Redbird Arena for participants to drop off donations. All items are being sent to children up to 18 years old within the Bloomington/Normal community.
NEXT UP
The Redbirds travel to Milwaukee to take on the 4-2 Panthers on Thursday, Dec. 7 and return home on Sunday to face Eastern Michigan at 2 p.m.
