NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's basketball team starts the second swing through MVC play at Redbird Arena against Loyola on Friday.
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GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State Redbirds (8-12, 2-7) vs. Loyola (4-16, 2-7) vs. Valparaiso (10-9, 3-5)
When: Friday, February 2 vs. Loyola / Sunday, February 4 vs. Valparaiso
Tip-Off: 7 p.m. CT, / 1 p.m. CT
THE SERIES VS LOYOLA
• The Redbirds hold a 9-5 record over the Ramblers. The Birds are 5-1 at home, 3-4 at Loyola and 0-1 at a neutral site.
• The teams most recently met on January, 10, 2018 and Loyola captured a 68-61 victory. Â
• This is the second time Coach Gillespie and Coach Achter will meet.
THE SERIES VS VALPARAISO
• The Redbirds hold a 3-2 record over the Crusaders. The Birds are 1-1 at home, 1-1 at Valpo and 1-0 at a neutral site.
• The teams most recently met on January 5, 2018 at Valparaiso and the Crusaders captured a close 56-50 win.
• This is the second time Coach Gillespie and Coach Dorow will meet.
• However, Coach Dorow played for the Redbirds from 1990-1993 and led her team in assists as a sophomore.
REDBIRD BITS
• The Redbirds lead the MVC are ranked 10th in the country for field goal percentage defense, holding their opponents to an average of 34.8 percent. They are also first in conference and tabbed ninth in scoring defense in the nation, allowing 54.6 points per game.
• On average, MVC opponents have scored 10.5 points fewer per game than their season scoring average.
• Viria Livingston and Megan Talbot each captured their first career double-double this season during MVC play.
• Freshman point guard Paige Saylor continues to lead the conference in steals per game with 2.6 and Hannah Green leads the MVC in blocked shots, averaging 2.1.
• Green Goods and Katrina Beck have each had noteworthy performances this season, earning them MVC Player of the Week Honors.
• Megan Talbot, and Green are in the top ten of the MVC for rebounding.
• Green has been the leading scorer for the Redbirds and is marked sixth in the conference, averaging 13.3 points per game.
 SCOUTING THE RAMBLERS
• The Ramblers own a 4-16 record after most recently defeating Evansville 82-63 on Sunday, where the team shot a season-best 50 percent from the field.
• The Ramblers were picked to finish last in MVC preseason poll behind Valparaiso. Â
• The team returned six letter winners from last season, including three of the team's top four scorers.
• Freshman Abby O'Connor leads her team, averaging 10.3 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game. O'Connor led the Ramblers to their victory over the Redbirds topping all scorers with 24 points.
• Brandi Segars was one of only three Ramblers to appear in all 30 games last season and closed the year ranked third on the roster in scoring (7.7 ppg).
BATTLE FOR ILLINOIS
Four in-state university basketball programs have the opportunity to earn bragging rights to a new trophy as the "Battle for Illinois" rivalry series was introduced by the respective athletic departments for Bradley, Illinois State, Loyola and Southern Illinois. Â Both men's and women's basketball teams for the four universities will accrue points in featured head-to-head competition only. One point will be earned for each win. In the event of a tie, the following will determine the Battle for Illinois winner: 1) Head-to-head record among the tied schools; 2) regular-season conference record; 3) overall regular-season record (conference and non-conference); 4) combined tournament wins; 5) average margin of victory (rivalry series games).
FANNY PACK FRIDAY
Free fanny packs will be given away to the first 100 students at the game on Friday night.
SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS
• This is the first year that the Crusaders are a part of the Missouri Valley Conference and were tabbed to finish ninth in the preseason poll just above Loyola.
• The Crusaders most recently faced Indiana State and dropped 67-54. The team split last weekend and hit the 100 mark, downing Evansville 101-59.
• The win on Friday also allowed Valpo to gain its 10th victory of the year, matching the program's win total of each of the last two seasons. With their next triumph, the Crusaders will secure the program's highest win total since 2012-13.
• Meredith Hamlet Made her way into double figures for the fourth consecutive game with a team-high 18 on Jan. 26 against Evansville.
• Dani Franklin became the first Valpo player in 15 years to crack the program's Top 3, and is currently second in the Valley, averaging 16.1 points per game.
SUPER BOWL SUNDAY SPECIAL
In honor of Super Bowl Sunday, concessions will have $1 small nachos and themed snacks for the occasion. Family ticket packs are available for purchase for $40 and include sodas, hot dogs and chips for a family of four.
NEXT UP
The Redbirds take to the road after a four-game home stand and will face the Southern Illinois Salukis on Friday in Carbondale, Ill. Â
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