NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's basketball team travels south this weekend, as they face Missouri State and Southern Illinois for the start of their three-game road swing.
GAME INFORMATION VS. MISSOURI STATE
Illinois State Redbirds (13-9, 6-5 vs. Missouri State Bears (14-7, 10-0)
When: Friday, Feb. 15
Tip-Off: 7 p.m. CT
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: 1230 AM
THE SERIES VS. MISSOURI STATE
• The Redbirds are 31-44 overall against the Bears. Missouri State broke the tie in games played at Redbird Arena earlier this season and now leads 19-18, ISU is 12-23 at Missouri State and 1-2 at a neutral site.
• Illinois State has not defeated Missouri State since the 2013-14 season, and most recently fell to the team 59-47 on Jan. 20.
REDBIRD BITS
• Illinois State enters the contest on a three-game win streak, most recently downing Indiana State, 78-70 on Sunday.
• ISU has been shooting its best, averaging 54.5 percent from the floor in the last three games. The squad set a season-high field goal percentage (.591) in the win over Valparaiso. Simone Goods has led the way adding a combined 65 points in the last three contests, making 24-of-38 (.632) from the field.
TeTe Maggett guided the 'Birds to victory, scoring a game-high of 26 points, and grabbed seven boards against Indiana State. Maggett also surpassed a personal best on Friday, dishing out eight assists in ISU's win over Evansville.
• Goods and Maggett account for 53 percent of ISU's scoring and are both in the top five in the Valley, scoring 17.1 and 16.0 points per game, respectively.
SCOUTING THE BEARS
• The Lady Bears have won 13 consecutive contests and sit first in the Valley as the only MVC team with an undefeated conference record.
• The team is led by Danielle Gitzen who averages 13.4 points and leads the Bears with 66 assists this season.
• The Lady Bears have won the rebounding battle 19 times in 21 games, including all 13 games of their current win streak. In Valley games, MSU leads the league in scoring defense (58.6), 3-point defense (.272), rebound margin (+11.1), turnover margin (+5.20), and both offensive (.362) and defensive (.779) rebound percentage.
GAME INFORMATION VS. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
Illinois State Redbirds (13-9, 6-5) vs. Southern Illinois Salukis (10-11, 3-7)
When: Sunday, Feb. 17
Tip-Off: 2 p.m. CT
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: 1230 AM
THE SERIES VS. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
• The Redbirds are 58-43 overall when facing the Salukis. The 'Birds are 31-22 at home, 23-21 at Southern and 4-0 at a neutral site.
• The Redbirds captured a 60-52 victory over the Salukis in the first game of the series on Jan. 18.
SCOUTING THE SALUKIS
• The Salukis faced travel partner Missouri State last weekend and dropped a 12-point battle to the Bears.
• The team is led by Nicole Martin, who averages 14.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. The junior guard was a 2019 preseason All-MVC selection after garnering MVC First Team honors last spring.
• Southern is assisting on 64 percent of its shots this season, which is the second-best ratio in the MVC and 33rd best nationally.
NEXT UP
The Redbirds face I-74 rival Bradley on Friday, Feb. 22 in Peoria, Illinois with tip-off set for 7 p.m.
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