IRVINE, Calif. – The Redbirds are taking flight this holiday weekend, as Illinois State (1-3) will make the journey out to the Golden State to face off with a pair of California teams at the UCI Thanksgiving Invite. ISU opens play with tournament hosts UC Irvine (2-2) at 4:30 p.m. CT on Friday before closing out the trip on Saturday versus Sacramento State (2-2) at 4:30 p.m. CT.
Friday's game versus the Anteaters will be streamed on ESPN+, but there will be no stream available for Saturday's contest. Both games will be broadcasted on-air via WJBC 1230 AM/102.1 FM or the Varsity Network Mobile App.
GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State at UC Irvine/vs. Sacramento State
When: Friday, Nov. 26/Saturday, Nov. 27
Tip-off: 4:30 p.m. CT
Location: Irvine, Calif.
Facility: Bren Events Center
Watch: ESPN+/none
Listen: WJBC 1230 AM/102.1 FM
THE GOLDEN STATE
This trip out west will be ISU's first in the state of California since 2017, when the Redbirds attended the Beach Classic, hosted by Long Beach State. Illinois State went 2-0 in that tournament, earning victories over the hosts as well as Northeastern.
LAST TIME OUT
A three-pointer to tie it up with 25 seconds remaining from sharpshooter Mary Crompton was not enough as ISU (1-3) fell at UT Martin (3-2), 54-52 on Saturday.
Junior forward DeAnna Wilson led a trio of Redbirds in double-digit scoring, finishing with 14 points and a game-high seven rebounds. Redshirt sophomore Maya Wong had 12 points, dishing out three assists and going 7-of-8 from the free throw line. Graduate student Jada Stinson also put up 12 points, shooting 4-of-6 from beyond the arc.
MOVIN' ON UP
With Mary Crompton's fourth quarter game-tying triple in Saturday's contest at UT Martin, the redshirt junior moved into sole possession of sixth place in ISU's top-10 list in career three-point field goals.
The Iowa City, Iowa native currently has 149 career triples, and trails Maggie Krick (5th – 169), Jaci McCormack (4th – 183), Jenny Schmidt (3rd – 205), Katie Broadway (2nd – 225) and Kristi Cirone (1st – 229).
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
The Redbirds continue to work through their grueling non-conference slate, which features five of the first six contests on the road. ISU has not spent so much time away from Normal to start the year in only eight seasons previously (during DI era), with the last time being during the 2014-15 campaign.
SERIES HISTORY
Both UC Irvine and Sacramento State are new opponents for the Redbirds, as Illinois State has not faced either team previously.
SCOUTING THE ANTEATERS
Redshirt freshman Kayla Williams led the 'Eaters with a season-high 20 points, all of which came in the second half and overtime in a 93-88 OT loss to defending WAC champion California Baptist on Saturday afternoon. Williams, who averages a team-high 11.8 points per game, also finished with four steals, two blocks and two assists.
Sophomore guard Chloe Webb leads the team in rebounding, averaging 6.5 boards per game paired with 10.0 points per contest.
Head coach Tamara Inoue is in her sixth season leading UC Irvine's program, holding a 73-80 all-time record. Inoue was named the 2020-21 Big West co-Coach of the Year, after leading the 'Eaters to a 15-9 overall record and an appearance in the Big West Tournament championship game for the first time since 1997.
SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Graduate student Lianna Tillman leads the Hornets, ranking ninth in the country in scoring and averaging 23.8 points per game. Tillman also averages a team-best 5.0 assists per game.
6'5 sophomore center Isnelle Natabou leads Sacramento State on the boards, grabbing 10.0 rebounds per game.
Head coach Mark Campbell was named the sixth head women's basketball coach at Sacramento State in April 2021. Prior to joining the Hornets, Campbell spent seven seasons at Oregon, most recently as the team's associate head coach. Campbell also has DI experience at Oregon State, Saint Mary's and Pepperdine.
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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