NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's basketball team will conclude the 2019-20 regular season this weekend, making a trip to Evansville on Thursday before traveling to Indiana State for the regular season finale on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off with the Purple Aces is set for 6 p.m. on Thursday with Saturday's game versus the Sycamores slated to begin at 1 p.m.
GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State (17-10, 9-7 MVC) vs. Evansville (3-24, 0-16 MVC) / Indiana State (5-23, 3-13 MVC)
When: Thursday, March 5 / Saturday, March 7
Tip-Off: 6 p.m. / 1 p.m. CT
Location: Evansville, Ind. / Terre Haute, Ind.
Arena: Meeks Family Fieldhouse / Hulman Center
Watch: ESPN+ / ESPN+
Radio: WJBC AM 1230
Live Stats: Evansville / Indiana State
SCOUTING THE PURPLE ACES
Evansville has yet to win a Missouri Valley Conference game this year, entering today's game with a 3-24 overall record. Freshman Abby Feit leads the team in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 13.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game in her debut season. Sophomore guard Anna Newman averages a team-high 3.2 assists per contest.
Head coach Matt Ruffing is in his fourth season as head coach and ninth with the UE program, holding a 25-97 record in that span.
SERIES HISTORY – EVANSVILLE
Illinois State leads the all-time series with the Purple Aces, 33-19, and has an 18-6 advantage when playing in Evansville. The Redbirds were victorious in their previous meeting this season, putting up a 81-58 victory over UE at Redbird Arena on Jan. 5. Junior Juliunn Redmond recorded her first double-double in that game, leading all scoring with 15 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
SCOUTING THE SYCAMORES
Indiana State enters the weekend having won three Valley games this year, two of which were over in-state foe Evansville. Junior Jamyra McChristine leads the Sycamores, averaging 10.9 points a game. Fellow junior LeAndra Echi averages 8.1 points and a team-high 7.6 rebounds.
Head coach Vicki Hall holds a 16-42 record in her second season with the Sycamore program.
SERIES HISTORY – INDIANA STATE
Illinois State leads the all-time series with the Sycamores, 52-45, with Indiana State holding a 25-16 advantage when playing in Terre Haute. Earlier this season, the Redbirds beat the Sycamores, 83-69, to open conference play. The senior duo of TeTe Maggett and Lexi Wallen had 27 and 26 points, respectively.
UPSET IN NORMAL
The Redbirds took down No. 17/21 Missouri State, 78-66, on Thursday last week to earn their first win over a ranked opponent in over 28 years. The last time ISU had previously defeated a ranked opponent was back on Jan. 9, 1992 when the 'Birds upset No. 20 Southwest Missouri State, 79-73, in Normal.
MID-MAJOR TOP 25
Illinois State is receiving votes in this week's College Insider's Women's Mid-Major Top 25. The Redbirds have been either receiving votes or ranked in 10 of 17 weeks this season. Four of ISU's 2019-2020 opponents are ranked or receiving votes: Missouri State (6th), Drake (8th), Bradley (23rd) and UT-Martin (RV).
LAST TIME OUT
The women's basketball team topped Southern Illinois on Sunday afternoon, 66-56, in their final home game of the 2019-20 season. Junior Paige Saylor led the way for the 'Birds, leading the team in scoring for the first time this year and matching a season-high 14 points. Fellow junior Juliunn Redmond finished with 13 points, shooting 4-of-5 (80 percent) from the floor and a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe.
With the win, the Redbirds (17-10, 9-7 MVC) have clinched at least a No. 6 seed in the MVC Tournament and will get a first-round bye next week at Hoops in the Heartland.
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.
