NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's basketball team will officially open the 2021-22 season on Tuesday evening when they head north to take on in-state opponent Northern Illinois at the Convocation Center in DeKalb, Illinois.
Tip-off for ISU's season opener is slated for 6 p.m. and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.
GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State at Northern Illinois
When: Tuesday, Nov. 9
Tip-off: 6 p.m. CT
Location: DeKalb, Ill.
Facility: Convocation Center
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: WJBC 93.7 FM Nash Icon / The Varsity Network App
2021-22 SEASON PREVIEW
The Redbirds are fresh off their first postseason berth in eight years after participating in the WNIT during the 2020-21 season. ISU also earned its first postseason win since 2013, defeating Samford, 68-62, at the tournament.
Illinois State returns All-MVC selections in fifth year Juliunn Redmond and redshirt junior Mary Crompton from last year's team that finished with a 16-9 (12-6 MVC) record.. Redmond, who earned an All-MVC First Team nod last year, led the 'Birds in scoring with 13.9 points per game, also averaging 6.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per contest. Tabbed All-MVC Honorable Mention, Crompton finished the year as the country's third-best sharpshooter in terms of three-point field goal percentage, shooting 46.7% from deep.
FIRST LOOK: EXHIBITION PLAY
Illinois State took the court for the first time during the 2021-22 campaign last Wednesday evening, defeating Division II opponent UMSL (University of Missouri-St. Louis), 64-53, at Redbird Arena in exhibition play.
The 'Birds were led by junior forward DeAnna Wilson who scored a game-high 18 points, going 8-of-12 (66.7%) from the floor while grabbing six rebounds.
Joining Wilson in double figures was fifth year guard Juliunn Redmond (14) and redshirt sophomore Maya Wong (13), who also dished out a game-high five assists. Sophomore forward Kate Bullman pulled down a team-best 11 boards on the night.
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
Northern Illinois returns all five starters from last season, including junior guard Chelby Koker who was an All-MAC Second Team selection. Koker led NIU with 21.1 points and 3.8 assists per game last year, while leading the league in free throw percentage at 88.9 percent.
The Huskies also return the reigning MAC Sixth Woman of the Year in redshirt senior guard Janae Poisson. Poisson led the MAC and was ninth in the nation in three-point field goal percentage at 45.1% a year ago.
Head coach Lisa Carlsen enters her seventh season at the helm of the NIU women's basketball program with an 89-90 record and her 19th season overall with a 273-253 career record.
SERIES HISTORY
The Redbirds lead the all-time series with the Huskies, 16-9, while NIU holds a 6-3 advantage when playing in front of their home crowd in DeKalb.
In their last meeting back on Nov. 20, 2019, former Redbirds Lexi Wallen and TeTe Maggett paved the way as Illinois State held on for a 69-66 win over the Huskies at Redbird Arena. The victory snapped a NIU's four-game winning streak in the series.
It was the consecutive game Wallen led the 'Birds in scoring as she posted a team-high 18 points. Maggett recorded the second double-double of her career, collecting 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Then redshirt freshman Mary Crompton put up all nine of her points in the fourth quarter, six of which came from back-to-back triples to secure the victory at home.
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.
