NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's basketball team hosts No. 17/21 Missouri State and Southern Illinois for their final homestand of the season. Tip-off with the nationally-ranked Lady Bears is set for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday with Sunday afternoon's Senior Day showdown with the Salukis set for 2 p.m.
GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State (15-10, 7-7 MVC) vs. Missouri State (23-3, 13-1 MVC) / Southern Illinois (15-10, 7-7 MVC)
When: Thursday, Feb. 27 / Sunday, March 1
Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m. / 2 p.m. CT
Location: Normal, Ill.
Arena: Redbird Arena
Watch: ESPN+ / ESPN+
Radio: WJBC AM 1230
Live Stats: Missouri State / Southern Illinois
SCOUTING THE LADY BEARS
No. 17/21 Missouri State enters the week on a nine-game winning streak with a 23-3 overall record and 13-1 record in MVC play. Alexa Willard leads the team, averaging 16.5 points per game. Brice Calip adds 12.2 points and a team-high 4.0 assists per contest. Jasmine Franklin leads the MVC with an 8.9 rebounds per game.
Head coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton is 23-3 in her first season at the helm of the Lady Bears program, which is the most wins by a first-year MSU coach, ranking third in MVC history.
SERIES HISTORY – MSU
Missouri State leads the all-time series, 45-32, with the Redbirds, also holding a 19-18 advantage when playing in Normal. The Lady Bears have won nine of the last 10 meetings.
SCOUTING THE SALUKIS
Southern Illinois is coming off a pair of wins over Indiana State and Evansville this past weekend, entering the week with an identical 15-10 (7-7 MVC) record to the 'Birds. Makenzie Silvey is averaging a team-best 15.4 points with fellow junior Abby Brockmeyer also leading the team with 7.0 rebounds per game. Senior Brittney Patrick dishes out 4.0 assists per contest.
Head coach Cindy Stein is in her seventh season at Southern Illinois and holds a 105-105 record at SIU and a career record of 372-296.
SERIES HISTORY – SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
Illinois State leads the all-time series with the Salukis, 60-43, with a 31-22 advantage when playing in Normal. The Redbirds have won each of the last five meetings against SIU.
IT'S BEEN AWHILE…
No. 17/21 Missouri State is the first ranked opponent to enter Redbird Arena since Nov. 25, 2007, when the Redbirds fell to No. 18 DePaul, 80-75. Illinois State's last win over a ranked opponent was more than 28 years ago, when the 'Birds defeated No. 20 Southwest Missouri State, 79-73, in Normal, on Jan. 9, 1992.
LAST TIME OUT
The Redbirds battled to the very end, knotting the score with only 1:11 left, but ultimately fell to Drake, 87-82, in Des Moines on Saturday afternoon. Senior Lexi Wallen had a team-high 23 points, grabbing two rebounds and dishing out two assists. Redshirt freshman Mary Crompton tied her career-high of six three-pointers, totaling 18 points on the day while shooting 50 percent (6-of-12) from deep.
Also finishing in double figures was Juliunn Redmond (12 points, 7 asts, 4 stls, 3 rebs) and TeTe Maggett (11 pts, 9 rebs). Senior Megan Talbot almost recorded a double-double, finishing with nine points, eight rebounds and three assists.
PROMOTIONS
Thursday's game versus Missouri State coincides with the 'Birds Mean Business promotion, in which fans will get free admission by displaying their business card.
Illinois State's four seniors (Frannie Corrigan, TeTe Maggett, Megan Talbot and Lexi Wallen) will be honored on Sunday in a pregame Senior Day ceremony. Seniors (ages 55+) can also claim free tickets to Sunday's game at the ticket office upon arrival.
For all latest on Illinois State women's basketball, stay tuned at GoRedbirds.com and follow the team at @RedbirdWBB (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
