Illinois State Returns to Doug Collins Court to Host Oakland

NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's basketball team returns home after a three-game road swing to host the Golden Grizzlies of Oakland.

GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State Redbirds (1-4) vs. Oakland (2-4)

When: Thursday, Nov. 29

Tip-Off: 7:00 p.m. CT

THE SERIES

• Oakland leads the series 2-0 dating back to 1979.

• The teams most recently met on Nov. 11, 2017, in Rochester, Michigan, where the Grizzlies captured a 64-43 win.

• This is the second meeting between Coach Kristen Gillespie and Coach Jeff Tungate.

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REDBIRD BITS

• The Redbirds enter the game with a 1-4 record after falling to Butler in a last minute thriller on Sunday, 58-56.

• Prior to meeting with Illinois State, the Butler Bulldogs (No. 22 in NCAA RPI rankings) averaged a scoring margin of 37.5 points, defeating all opponents by at least 21 points. Illinois State fell in a last minute battle and held the Bulldogs to their lowest score of the season at 58-56. Prior to meeting with the 'Birds, Butler averaged 84.8 points per game.

• Simone Goods leads the conference in scoring, averaging 16.6 per game and is in the top 5 percent of the country in this category. She also ranks in the top 10 percent in the country in field goal percentage and rebounds per game, shooting 56.4 percent from the field and grabbing 7.2 rebounds per game.

• Junior guard TeTe Maggett led the Redbirds in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals during the week of Nov. 18. She added a career high of 22 points and seven assists in loss to Butler on Sunday and put up 10 points in loss to Cleveland State. Last week, she averaged 16.0 points, 1.5 steals, 5.0 assists and 6.0 rebounds.

• The Redbirds moved up two spots in the preseason poll this year and were picked to finish fifth in the MVC.

• Head Coach Gillespie guided the Redbirds to their strongest finish in five years, during her first year at the helm. The Redbirds ended the 2017-18 season with a 14-16 overall record and finished sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GRIZZLIES

• Oakland most recently faced Canisius College at home and captured a 71-60 victory.

• A quartet of Grizzlies scored in double figures in Sunday's win. Taylor Jones led the way with a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds.

• Jones leads the team in points (17.5), rebounds (7.7), assists (4.1) and steals (1.5) per game. The senior guard also leads the Horizon League in assists per game and is second in the league with points per game.

• Oakland averages 4.8 blocks per game, which is a league high.

NEXT UP

The Redbirds will remain in Normal to face Austin Peay on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 4. 

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