NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's basketball team travels to Peoria, Ill. on Thursday to take on Bradley in the final game of the I-74 rivalry series. Thursday's game at the Renaissance Coliseum tips at 6 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN3.
GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State (12-6, 9-6 MVC) vs. Bradley (12-10, 8-7 MVC)
When: Thursday, Feb. 25
Tip-Off: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Peoria, Ill.
Facility: Renaissance Coliseum
Watch: ESPN3
Radio: WJBC AM 1230
Live Stats: SIDEARM Stats
LAST TIME OUT – SWEEPING THE BULLDOGS
Illinois State picked up a pair of wins over Drake last weekend, snapping a 15-game losing streak to the Bulldogs that had dated back to 2014. The streak had been the longest active between MVC opponents prior to Friday's win.
Redshirt sophomore Mary Crompton poured in a team-high 16 points in Friday's 76-68 win, going 6-of-11 (54.5%) from the floor and 4-of-7 (57.1%) from behind the arc.
Junior Terrion Moore led ISU with 18 points in Saturday's 81-71 victory, adding four rebounds, three steals and two assists.
The difference in both games proved to be big third quarter performances for the Redbirds, as ISU outscored Drake, 23-11 and 30-19 in that period in each game, respectively.
NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
Terrion Moore was named the MVC Newcomer of the Week for the second time this season following the Drake series. The junior had previously received the honor for her performance in the first game in ISU's series with Bradley on Jan. 27.
Moore averaged 14.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.0 steals over the weekend, recording the best plus/minus in both games (+14/+17).
MID-MAJOR TOP 25
Illinois State has entered College Insider's Mid-Major Top 25 poll for the first time this season at No. 23, after receiving votes in last week's update. The poll, which is in its 11th year of existence, is made up of teams outside the Power Five conferences.
In total, five MVC teams are receiving recognition in the poll. Missouri State is ranked second, Illinois State is at No. 23 with Drake, UNI and Bradley all receiving votes.
BRADLEY – SERIES HISTORY
ISU leads the all-time series with the Braves, 50-29, and are 20-17 when playing in Peoria. The Redbirds took the first game of the series back on Jan. 27, defeating Bradley, 66-54, at Redbird Arena.
SCOUTING THE BRAVES
Bradley is home to two of the Valley's top scorers in junior Lasha Petree (18.1 ppg, 1st in MVC) and senior Gabi Haack (16.1 ppg, 3rd in MVC). Joining them in averaging double figures and in the MVC's top-20 in scoring is senior Nyjah White, who is at 11.1 points per game.
Haack also leads the Braves in rebounding (5.1 reb/game) and three-point shooting (38.9%, 2.5 3FGM/game). White dishes out a team-high 3.4 assists per contest.
Head coach Andrea Gorski is in her fifth season at the helm of the Bradley program, owning a 79-64 (.552) record.
LAST MEETING
Senior Juliunn Redmond and junior Terrion Moore each recorded 20 points to lead ISU past Bradley, 66-54, on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at Redbird Arena.
Redmond pulled down a season-high 13 rebounds for her sixth career double-double while Moore was primarily responsible for holding MVC leading scorer Lasha Petree to 3-of-18 (16.7%) shooting.
Sophomore DeAnna Wilson added 14 points and six boards for the 'Birds.
ISU limited Bradley to 18-of-62 (29%) from the floor and 3-of-24 (12.5%) from three-point range. Lasha Petree led the Braves with 13 points.
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.
