Redbirds Enter Second Half of MVC Slate

NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's basketball team enters the second round of conference play this weekend as it hosts Evansville and Indiana State.

GAME INFORMATION VS. EVANSVILLE
Illinois State Redbirds (11-9, 4-5) vs. Evansville Aces (2-18, 0-9)

When: Friday, Feb. 8

Tip-Off: 7 p.m. CT

Watch: ESPN+

Listen: 1230 AM

THE SERIES VS. EVANSVILLE

• The Redbirds are 31-19 overall against the Aces. ISU is 13-10 at home, 18-6 at Evansville and 0-3 at a neutral site.

• Illinois State captured a 72-61 win over Evansville in the first game of this year's series.

REDBIRD BITS

• Illinois State shot a season-best of 59.1 percent from the floor on Sunday, downing Valparaiso 70-67. Simone Goods guided the Redbirds to their most recent victory, tying her career high with 30 points.  

• Kayel Newland surpassed her personal best Friday night against Loyola, draining 11 points for the 'Birds. She then matched that on Sunday and also had her first career start against Valparaiso.  

• Ally Gietzel had significant and valuable court time on Sunday contributing nine points, four boards, three assists, one block and one steal in 28 minutes of playing time. The freshman guard has not played more than five consecutive minutes prior to Sunday.

SCOUTING THE ACES

• The Aces are winless in the Valley, after most recently falling to Indiana State 76-69.

• Three Aces added double figures in the narrow loss to the Sycamores, with Kerri Gasper leading the way, going 7-for-11 from the floor with 19 points. Gasper leads the team with 11.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

GAME INFORMATION VS. INDIANA STATE
Illinois State Redbirds (11-9, 4-5) vs. Indiana State Sycamores (10-10, 4-5)

When: Sunday, Feb. 10

Tip-Off: 2 p.m. CT

Watch: ESPN+

Listen: 1230 AM

THE SERIES VS. INDIANA STATE

• The Redbirds are 50-45 overall when facing the Sycamores. The 'Birds are 31-18 at home, 16-25 at Indiana State and 3-2 at a neutral site.

• Illinois State looks to even the series after falling to Indiana State 59-44 in Terre Haute earlier this season.

SCOUTING THE SYCAMORES

• The Squad is led by Ashli O'Neal who averages 13.6 points and leads the Valley in steals, grabbing 2.6 per game.

• The Sycamores lead the Valley and is 51st nationally with 9.8 steals per game. Indiana State's scoring defense ranks 163rd nationally and third in the Valley, limiting opponents to 63.2 points per game. 

PLAY 4KAY

• Illinois State Athletics will be holding its ninth-annual women's basketball Play 4Kay cancer awareness game on Sunday, Feb. 10.

• Admission to the game is $1 (for those who did not register), and Sodexo concessions will be serving pink lemonade and a hotdog for $2.

• Giveaways at the doors include Kay Yow ribbons provided by Zeta Tau Alpha. While supplies last, attendees will receive a free ISU T-shirt upon entry.

• As Redbird fans have grown to recognize, Illinois State Athletics looks forward to this event every season, as it allows Illinois State to celebrate and lift up cancer survivors, and those currently battling the difficult disease in all of its forms.

NEXT UP

The Redbirds flock south on Friday, Feb. 15 as they take on Missouri State and finish the weekend with a matchup against Southern Illinois on Sunday.     

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