NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's basketball team hosts Valparaiso this Thursday and Friday at Redbird Arena, to open the third week of Missouri Valley Conference play. Both games are scheduled to tip at 4 p.m. CT on ESPN3.
GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State (5-2, 2-2 MVC) vs. Valpo (5-4, 1-1 MVC)
When: Thursday, Jan. 14/Friday, Jan. 15
Tip-Off: 4 p.m. CT
Location: Normal, Ill.
Facility: Redbird Arena
Watch: ESPN3
Radio: WJBC AM 1230
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN
The Redbirds and Crusaders were originally scheduled to meet in the opening weekend of Valley play on Jan. 1-2, before postponing due to positive COVID-19 tests within the Valpo program. Due to Missouri State also missing the MVC opening weekend because of COVID-19 protocols, ISU was instead sent to Cedar Falls, Iowa to take on UNI.
The MVC was able to reschedule the ISU-Valpo series for Jan. 14/15, the week that the 'Birds were initially slated to take on UNI.
NCAA NET UPDATE
The Redbirds are ranked No. 37 in the latest update of the NCAA NET Report (Jan. 11). They are one of five Valley teams in the top-100: Missouri State (27), Illinois State (37), UNI (69), Drake (75) and Bradley (87).
Starting with the 2020-21 season, the NCAA Women's Basketball Committee will use NET as a guide in selecting the at-large field and seeding for the NCAA Tournament, replacing the Rating Percentage Index (RPI) system in place since 1984.
NET ranking is determined by who you played, where you played, how efficiently you played and the result of the game, primarily driven by Adjusted Net Efficiency and Team Value Index.
2-0 IN TERRE HAUTE
Illinois State swept Indiana State last week on the road, increasing its win streak to five-straight games over the Sycamores.
The squad shot an impressive 70.8% (17-of-24) in the second half to secure a 74-60 victory over the Trees on Thursday. Juliunn Redmond collected a team-high 18 points, shooting 87.5% (7-of-8) and going a perfect 3-of-3 from deep, also adding four rebounds and three assists.
Then on Friday, the Redbirds held Indiana State to only 32 points, a program record for fewest points allowed in a MVC game in a decisive 62-32 win at the Hulman Center. Mary Crompton had a game-high 13 points, shooting 55.6% (5-of-9) from the floor and 60% (3-of-5) from long range.
DOMINANT DEFENSE
Friday's win at Indiana State was the second time this season that Illinois State limited a team to under 40 points, the first being ISU's 69-38 victory over Omaha on Dec. 17.
The Redbirds are one of seven teams in the country to hold multiple opponents to under 40 points this year. This exclusive list also includes Arizona, Baylor, Campbell, Milwaukee, North Carolina and Rutgers.
ISU has held their opponents to under 40% shooting from the field in six of seven games this year and are currently ranking nationally in field goal percentage defense (34.1 – 24th in NCAA, 1st in MVC), scoring defense (56.0 – 27th in NCAA, 1st in MVC) and scoring margin (19.1 – 25th in NCAA, 1st in MVC).
SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS
Shay Frederick, who averages 14.0 points per game, is leading the MVC in assists (5.1) and minutes played (35.9) per game. Carie Weinman leads the Crusaders in scoring with 14.6 points per game and a league-high 2.9 steals per contest. Grace White is also averaging in double figures with 14.3 points per game while grabbing a team-high 6.5 boards per contest.
Head coach Mary Evans holds a 30-40 (.429) record in her third season at the helm of the women's basketball program.
VALPARAISO - SERIES HISTORY
Illinois State leads the all-time series with Valpo, 7-3, and holds a 4-2 advantage since the Crusaders joined the Valley.
Despite ISU having a 3-2 edge when playing in Normal, Valpo took the last meeting between the two with a 78-70 win at Redbird Arena on Feb. 16, 2020.
LAST MEETING
ISU fell at home to Valparaiso, 78-70, on Feb. 16, snapping a four-game win streak over the Crusaders.
Redmond had a team-high 20 points and a career-best 14 rebounds for the Redbirds, to record her third-straight double-double. She also picked up two assists and three steals as well.
Lexi Wallen and TeTe Maggett also joined Redmond in scoring double figures. Wallen recorded 17 points while grabbing eight boards with Maggett adding 11 points, five rebounds and two assists.
Valpo's Addison Stoller posted a career-high 25 points and a season-best 10 rebounds in the victory.
For all the 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.
