NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's basketball team will hit the road for the first contest of a three-game Missouri Valley Conference road stint on Friday, as the Redbirds face familiar I-74 rival Bradley. Tip-off at the Renaissance Coliseum is at 7 p.m.
GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State (10-3, 2-0 MVC) vs. Bradley (11-2, 2-0 MVC)
When: Friday, Jan. 10
Tip-Off: 7 p.m. CT
Location: Peoria, Ill.
Arena: Renaissance Coliseum
Watch: ESPN3
Radio: WJBC AM 1230
Live Stats: SIDEARM Stats
SCOUTING THE BRAVES
Off to an 11-2 start for the first time since 2008-09, the Bradley Braves defeated Evansville, 82-51, and Indiana State, 91-75, at home to open conference play last weekend. Sophomore Lasha Petree was named MVC Player of the Week after averaging 30.0 points per game on 62.2 percent shooting (23-of-37). She also collected seven blocks (3.5 per game) as she helped Bradley to just their seventh 2-0 start in league play in program history.
Petree leads the team in scoring on the season, averaging 18.6 points through 13 games. Sophomore Chelsea Braackman averages a team-best 9.2 rebounds per game with sophomore Tatum Koenig dishing out 3.8 assists per game on average.
SERIES HISTORY
The 'Birds lead the all-time series with the Braves, 49-27, and hold a 20-16 advantage when playing on the road in Peoria, Illinois. Bradley swept Illinois State in the regular season last year, before the 'Birds eliminated them from postseason in the MVC quarterfinals. Former Redbirds Simone Goods and Katrina Beck led the team with 15 points in the 61-55 victory, with TeTe Maggett and Viria Livingston adding 13 and 10 points, respectively.
NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
Redshirt freshman Mary Crompton was named the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week, after averaging 13.7 points and shooting 40.9% from behind the three-point line in the previous three games for the Redbirds. Crompton ranks second in the Valley with a 40.7 percent (33-of-81) three-point percentage and averages 2.5 triples per game.
2-0 IN THE VALLEY
The 'Birds picked up wins over Indiana State and Evansville to open the conference slate, making it the first time since the 2012-13 season that ISU has started MVC play, 2-0. Illinois State is one of four teams to escape the first weekend of conference play undefeated (ISU, Missouri State, Bradley and Drake).
MID-MAJOR TOP-25 POLL
The Redbirds are receiving votes in the latest update of CollegeInsider.com's Mid-Major Top-25 Poll. This is the sixth week of the season that Illinois State is receiving votes, with six of ISU's 2019-20 opponents being ranked or receiving votes this week.
PROTECT THE NEST
Illinois State is a perfect 8-0 at home during the 2019-20 season. ISU was 11-3 at Redbird Arena last season and are 259-164 all-time when they have the home court advantage. The Redbirds' home win streak of 12-straight games (extending into last season) is tied for ninth longest nationally.
LAST TIME OUT
Junior Juliunn Redmond recorded her first career double-double in Sunday afternoon's 81-58 victory over Evansville at Redbird Arena. Redmond led all scoring with 15 points, shooting 2-of-2 from behind the three-point line, while also grabbing a career-high 11 rebounds and adding an assist.
Three other Redbirds posted double figures on Sunday: Mary Crompton (12 points, five assists, three rebounds), Cameron Call (11 points, two rebounds) and Lexi Wallen (10 points, four rebounds).
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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