NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State women's basketball began the 2018-19 season on Sunday, Sept. 30, with its first official practice of the season. The team stepped foot onto Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena to pursue a two-hour morning workout.
The Redbirds bring back four starters and two key returners, while welcoming six newcomers in the 2018-19. Illinois State was tabbed in the top 75 by Preferred Athlete Scouting Services following their announcement of the 2018-19 recruiting class. The team was ranked first out of Missouri Valley Conference schools, and 13th overall.
Returning starters from the 2017-18 season include Paige Saylor, Katrina Beck, Viria Livingston and Megan Talbot. Saylor finished the year on a high note, earning a spot on the MVC All-Freshman and All-Defensive teams. The freshman point guard also led the Valley in minutes on the court and steals per game, averaging 37.9 and 2.4, respectively.
Beck and Livingston both enter their fourth and final year as members of the women's basketball team. Beck was a key component to last year's success, starting all 30 games. She and Saylor were the only two 'Birds that started every game of the 2017-18 season. Beck was also chosen as MVC Player of the Week, after putting up an average of 16 points, six assists and six rebounds in week five against Milwaukee and Eastern Michigan.
Livingston started 29 games for the Redbirds, clocking in an average of 36.9 minutes, which ranked fourth in the Valley. She led the team in rebounding for the third-straight season, averaging 6.4 rebounds per game, and tied a career high with 13 rebounds against Evansville (2/18).
Junior forward Talbot averaged 7.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, with the second most rebounds on the team with 168 last season. Frannie Corrigan also returns as a junior for the 2018-19 season. She appeared in 27 games and set a new career high of 11 points in the game against Evansville (2/18).
MVC Newcomer of the Year Simone Goods returns for the 'Birds to begin her senior year after finishing a stellar 2017-18 season. The senior forward collected a league-high of four weekly honors, after being named Newcomer of the Week three times and Player of the Week one time. Goods dominated in the Long Beach Classic Tournament, averaging 20.5 points and 9.5 rebounds. She led the team to the tournament title and was named Long Beach Classic MVP. Goods finished the year leading her team in points with an average of 13.5 per game.
New to the squad for 2018-19 includes Mary Crompton, Anya Brooks, Lexy Koudelka, TeTe Maggett and Kayel Newland. Crompton, Brooks, Koudelka and Newland each enter as true freshman. Maggett is the lone transfer, coming from Vincennes in Indiana. During her tenure she garnered two Second-Team All-American honors and averaged 20 points, six assists and four steals per game.
Season tickets are on sale now at GoRedbirds.com/tickets, or by calling the Redbird ticket office at 309-438-8000.
Single-game tickets for both men's and women's basketball are set to go on sale to Weisbecker Scholarship Fund donors starting on Monday, Oct. 15, and to the public on Thursday, Oct. 18.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos, and more.
