NORMAL, Ill. – Coming off a 2-0 weekend on the road, Illinois State (7-7, 3-0 MVC) will welcome Valparaiso (4-11, 2-2 MVC) and Loyola Chicago (9-6, 1-3 MVC) at Redbird Arena this weekend. The Redbirds and Beacons are set for a 6 p.m. tip-off on Thursday evening, while Illinois State's weekend finale with the Ramblers is slated for Saturday evening, also at 6 p.m.
GAME INFORMATION
vs. Valparaiso / vs. Loyola Chicago
When: Thursday, Jan. 13 / Saturday, Jan. 15
Tip-off: 6 p.m. CT / 6 p.m. CT
Location: Normal, Ill.
Facility: Redbird Arena
Watch: ESPN+ / ESPN3
Listen: WJBC 1230 AM/102.1 FM
LAST TIME OUT
The Redbirds secured a pair of Missouri Valley Conference road wins last weekend, picking up wins at Indiana State, 66-58, and at Evansville, 87-68. Redshirt junior Mary Crompton led the 'Birds on the trip, averaging 16.0 points, 3.5 assists and 2.0 rebounds
MVC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Following her performances last weekend, Crompton became the third Redbird to earn the Valley Player of the Week title this season.
The Iowa City, Iowa-native finished with 10 points in ISU's Friday victory over Indiana State, tallying three rebounds, three assists and a steal in 33 minutes on the court. Crompton went on to put up a career-high 22 points versus Evansville on Sunday, going a blistering 6-of-7 from behind the arc while dishing out a team-high four assists.
ISU is the only program in the league to have three different student-athletes earn the Player of the Week honor so far, with Juliunn Redmond and DeAnna Wilson having previously held the title the weeks of Dec. 13 and Dec. 27, respectively.
BEST VALLEY START SINCE 2008
Illinois State's 3-0 record in the MVC is its best start in conference play since the 2007-08 campaign, in which the Redbirds went 8-0 to begin Valley action.
SCOUTING THE BEACONS
Valparaiso is led by a trio of guards averaging double figures on the year in redshirt senior Carie Weinman (11.7 ppg), senior Shay Frederick (11.6 ppg) and fifth year Grace White (10.0 ppg). White leads the team on the boards, averaging 5.9 rebounds per game while 2020-21 All-MVC First Team selection Frederick averages a conference-high 4.5 assists per contest.
The Beacons also went 2-0 over the weekend, defeating UNI on Friday, 60-58, and winning over the Drake Bulldogs for the first time in program history on Sunday, 71-61.
The Redbirds lead the all-time series with Valpo, 8-4, and have a 4-3 edge when playing in Redbird Arena. ISU split with Valpo during the 2020-21 season, winning in their first match-up in OT before falling on their home court the following day.
Head coach Mary Evans is in her fourth season at Valpo, holding a 41-60 record in that span.
SCOUTING THE RAMBLERS
Loyola Chicago is led by senior Allison Day who is averaging 11.0 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
The Ramblers split a pair of contests at home over the weekend, defeating Drake, 63-46, on Friday before dropping a 58-54 matchup on Sunday to UNI.
ISU leads the all-time series with the Ramblers, 14-8, and went 2-1 versus Loyola during the 2020-21 campaign. The 'Birds swept the 'Blers at Gentile Arena to end the regular season before falling to Loyola in a 61-60 heartbreaker in the Hoops in the Heartland quarterfinals.
Head coach Kate Achter holds a 58-104 overall record in her sixth season with the Ramblers.
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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