NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's basketball team will head east Friday night for a matchup against Indiana State and will finish the weekend with a stop at Evansville Sunday afternoon.
GAME INFORMATION VS. INDIANA STATE
Illinois State Redbirds (8-5, 1-1) vs. Indiana State Sycamores (7-6, 1-1)
When: Friday, Jan. 11
Tip-Off: 6 p.m. CT
THE SERIES VS. INDIANA STATE
• The Redbirds are 50-44 overall when facing the Sycamores. The 'Birds are 31-18 at home, 16-24 at Indiana State and 3-2 at a neutral site.
• The teams most recently met on Feb. 16 in Redbird Arena where the 'Birds captured a 63-53 victory.
REDBIRD BITS
• Illinois State enters the contest after splitting the first weekend of Valley play, defeating UNI and falling to Drake.
• TeTe Maggett has not missed a shot from the free-throw line in the past four contests, going 20-for-20. The junior guard has added double digits in all but two games this season, and surpassed her personal best on Friday, scoring 29 points in 66-64 win over UNI. Additionally, she has received MVC Newcomer of the Week three times and swept the weekly honors the week of Jan. 2 earning Player of the Week.
• Lexi Wallen was a late roster add and has made a quick impact for the Redbirds. On Sunday the senior forward tallied a new career high of 16 points in loss to Drake and added 30 over the weekend with 14 in win over UNI. Wallen was a member of the ISU volleyball team the last four seasons and helped the team to the first NCAA tournament appearance in four years.
• Illinois State leads the Valley and sits top 100 in the nation in scoring defense, only allowing 59.7 points per game. The Redbirds have also outrebounded all but three opponents this season, averaging a +4.2 rebounding margin. ISU's rebounding defense ranks first in the Valley with opponents averaging 32.8 boards a game.
SCOUTING THE SYCAMORES
• The Sycamores split the first weekend of Valley play with a 61-58 win over Southern Illinois and a 71-58 loss to Missouri State.
• The Squad is led by Ashli O'Neal who averages 14.2 points and leads the Valley in steals, grabbing 2.8 per game.
• Indiana State leads the Valley and is top 50 in the nation with 10.5 steals per game.
• Regan Wentland is among the few Valley players to add multiple double-doubles this season, most recently posting 13 points and 13 boards. Simone Goods joins her in this category, tallying four double-doubles this season.
GAME INFORMATION VS. EVANSVILLE
Illinois State Redbirds (8-5, 1-1) vs. Evansville Aces (2-11, 0-2)
When: Sunday, Jan. 13
Tip-Off: 1 p.m. CT
THE SERIES VS. EVANSVILLE
• The Redbirds are 30-19 overall against the Aces. ISU is 13-10 at home, 17-6 at Evansville and 0-3 at a neutral site.
• Illinois State defeated the Aces twice last season, topping Evansville 70-44 at their last meeting on Feb. 18 in Redbird Arena.
SCOUTING THE ACES
• The Aces dropped games at Missouri State and Southern Illinois in the first week of Valley play.
• Keri Gasper leads the team with 11.2 points and seven rebounds per game.
• Redshirt junior Marley Miller added a career high 21 points in Evansville's loss to Wisconsin. The Vincennes junior college transfer has been a key asset to the team, scoring double figures in seven contests this season.
NEXT UP
The Redbirds return to Doug Collins Court on Friday, Jan. 18 to host Southern Illinois for a Friday night matchup. Illinois State swept the series last year against the Salukis.
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