NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's basketball team will conclude the first half of their Missouri Valley Conference schedule this weekend, traveling to Southern Illinois on Friday and to No. 21/24 Missouri State on Sunday.
GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State (12-6, 4-3 MVC) at Southern Illinois (12-6, 4-3 MVC) / No. 21/24 Missouri State (16-3, 6-1 MVC)
When: Friday, Jan. 31 / Sunday, Feb. 2
Tip-Off: 6 p.m. / 2 p.m. CT
Location: Carbondale, Ill. / Springfield, Mo.
Arena: Banterra Center / JQH Arena
Watch: ESPN3 / ESPN+
Radio: WJBC AM 1230
Live Stats: Southern Illinois / Missouri State
SCOUTING THE SALUKIS
Southern Illinois (12-6, 4-3 MVC) enters Friday on a three-game winning streak, after upsetting Missouri State in Carbondale and then gliding past both Evansville and Indiana State on the road last weekend, winning both by a margin of at least 13 points.
Makenzie Silvey is averaging a team-best 16.2 points with fellow junior Abby Brockmeyer also leading the team with 7.1 rebounds per game. Senior Brittney Patrick dishes out 4.1 assists per contest.
SERIES HISTORY – SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
Illinois State leads the all-time series with the Salukis, 59-43, with a 24-21 road record while playing in Carbondale. The Redbirds swept SIU in their two meetings last season and are on a four-game winning streak versus the Salukis, extending back to January 2018.
SCOUTING THE BEARS
No. 21/24 Missouri State (16-3, 6-1 MVC), ranked second in conference play, will take on the only undefeated team in Valley play, Bradley, on Friday night ahead of their Sunday showdown with the 'Birds. The Bears have been nationally ranked for much of the season, fluctuating mostly between the No. 19-22 spot in the AP Poll.
Senior Alexa Willard averages 17.6 points per game, ranked second in the MVC in scoring. Sophomore Jasmine Franklin leads the Valley in rebounding, pulling down 9.3 rebounds per game.
SERIES HISTORY – MISSOURI STATE
The Bears lead the 'Birds in the all-time series, 44-32, with a 23-13 advantage when playing in Springfield. The two teams split the series last year, with each picking up a win on the other's home court. Illinois State was one of Missouri State's two conference losses last year, as the Bears would go on to make a run in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.
MID-MAJOR TOP 25
Illinois State broke into College Insider's Mid-Major Top 25 poll for the first time this season, taking up the No. 25 spot after taking Drake to overtime and defeating UNI at home. Six of ISU's 2019-20 opponents are either ranked or receiving votes in the poll.
NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
Junior Juliunn Redmond was named the MVC Newcomer of the Week after averaging 14.0 points and 6.0 rebounds in two hard-fought MVC games at home over the weekend. Redmond was responsible for all six overtime points in ISU's narrow loss to Drake on Friday, while also shooting 50 percent from three and going a perfect 9-of-9 from the charity stripe in the two-game span.
LAST TIME OUT
After trailing by five points at halftime, an 18-2 run to close the third quarter gave the Redbirds the push they needed to secure the win over UNI, 65-57, on Sunday afternoon at Redbird Arena.
Lexi Wallen finished with a game-high 20 points, 14 of which came in the second half, while also adding five rebounds. It was the seventh time this season she has scored at least 20 points in a game.
TeTe Maggett contributed 15 points, also adding four rebounds and four assists. Juliunn Redmond grabbed six boards en route to scoring 14 points.
For all latest on Illinois State women's basketball, stay tuned at GoRedbirds.com and follow the team at @RedbirdWBB (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).
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