NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's basketball team is back at home this weekend as they welcome Missouri Valley Conference power No. 23/25 Missouri State to Redbird Arena on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 12-13. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. CT on both days and the games will be streamed on ESPN+.
GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State (10-4, 7-4 MVC) vs. Missouri State (11-2, 7-0 MVC)
When: Friday, Feb. 12/Saturday, Feb. 13
Tip-Off: 4 p.m. CT
Location: Normal, Ill.
Facility: Redbird Arena
Watch: ESPN+
Radio: WJBC AM 1230
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
LAST TIME OUT – SPLIT WITH SALUKIS
Illinois State split the series at SIU last weekend, defeating the Salukis on Friday afternoon, 57-50, before falling on Saturday, 43-41, to snap its seven-game winning streak over SIU.
Senior Juliunn Redmond just missed a double-double with a game-high 22 points and nine rebounds in Friday's win, going 8-of-14 (57.1%) from the floor, 2-of-3 (66.6%) from long range and a perfect 4-of-4 to record her second straight 20+ point performance.
Junior Lexy Koudelka led the Redbirds on Saturday, finishing with season-highs in points (13) and rebounds (8), while shooting an efficient 5-of-6 (83.3%) from the floor.
MISSOURI STATE – SERIES HISTORY
Illinois State has matched up well against Missouri State in recent years, claiming victory in two of their last three meetings with the Lady Bears. The Redbirds also account for two of the Lady Bears nine total losses, dating back to Jan. 2019. ISU remains the last team to beat Missouri State by double-digits.
Missouri State leads the all-time series with Illinois State, 45-33, with the series being tied, 19-19, when being played in Normal.
SCOUTING THE LADY BEARS
Missouri State reentered the AP Top 25 Poll this week and appear at No. 25. MSU improved to No. 23 in the USA Today Coaches Top 25 poll (Feb. 2), marking its 28th-straight appearance in the poll.
Senior Brice Calip leads the Lady Bears in scoring, averaging team-highs with 15.2 points and 4.4 assists per game on the year. Junior Jasmine Franklin joins Calip in averaging double figures with 10.3 points and leads the team in rebounding with 9.1 boards per contest.
Reigning MVC Coach of the Year Amaka Agugua-Hamilton is 37-6 in her second season at the helm of the Missouri State program.
LAST MEETING
ISU upset No. 17/21 Missouri State at Redbird Arena on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 for its first win over a ranked opponent in 28 years.
TeTe Maggett led all scorers with 24 points, hitting 3-of-3 three-point field goals in the fourth quarter to help lift the 'Birds to the victory. Maggett also recorded game-highs in rebounds (eight) and assists (six).
Lexi Wallen contributed 18 points, shooting 60% (6-of-10) from the floor, while also grabbing six boards. Paige Saylor and Mary Crompton both added nine points in the winning effort.
Brice Calip had a team-high 20 points for the Lady Bears, with Sydney Wilson and Jasmine Franklin each chiming in 13 of their own.
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.
