Illinois State Opens 2022-23 Season In Dayton

NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's basketball team will officially open the 2022-23 season on Thursday when they head to the Buckeye state for a matchup against Dayton. Tip-off from the UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio is slated for 6 p.m. and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.

GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State at Dayton
When: Thursday, Nov. 10
Tip-off: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Facility: UD Arena
Watch:  ESPN+
Listen: WJBC 93.7 FM Nash Icon / The Varsity Network App

2022-23 SEASON PREVIEW
The Redbirds come into this season after capturing their fifth Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Championship and their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2008. The 'Birds (19-14, 12-6 in 2021-22) will look to repeat their success as the MVC sees three new members in Belmont, Murray State, and UIC.  

The Redbirds bring back 10 returners from last season's MVC Championship and NCAA Tournament team, including All-MVC First Team member and MVC All-Tournament Team member, DeAnna Wilson. ISU added three transfers and two freshmen in the off-season, including NCAA Division II Player of the Year, Paige Robinson (Drury), NJCAA All-Region VII Team member, Ta'Shonna Wright-Gaskins (Chipola College), and NJCAA All-American, Daijah Smith (most recently Wabash Valley College). Taylor Veach and Abbie Aalsma make up the Redbirds' freshmen class for the 2022-23 season.

FIRST LOOK: EXHIBITION PLAY
Illinois State took the court for the first time during the 2022-23 campaign on Nov. 1, defeating Division II opponent UIndy (University of Indianapolis) 77-58 at Redbird Arena in exhibition play.

Graduate student, Paige Robinson, lived up to the preseason hype – in her ISU debut – scoring a game-high 27 points while three other Redbirds ended the night in double figures. Senior DeAnna Wilson compiled a double-double, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Redshirt junior Maya Wong and freshman Abbie Aalsma both finished their nights with 10 points to their names.

On the defensive side of the ball, ISU would see Ta'Shonna Wright-Gaskins – in her ISU debut – fill up the stat sheet on that side of the ball, finishing with six rebounds, four blocks, and six steals. Wright-Gaskins' four blocks were part of a combined 10 for the home team on Tuesday, as ISU would garner 10 steals as well against the Greyhounds.

SCOUTING THE FLYERS
Dayton enters this season with a new coaching staff under first-year head coach Tamika Williams-Jeter. Along with her staff, Williams-Jeter brings in seven new players to this year's squad, but still holds veteran leaders in seniors Mariah Perez, Maliya Perry, and redshirt junior Destiny Bohanon.

Dayton went 26-6 in 2021-22, winning the A-10 regular season title and advancing to the second round of March Madness, ultimately falling to Georgia. However, Tamika Wiliams-Jeter and her staff, along with new faces within the team, will look to guide the Flyers to the postseason for the 16^th straight time.

After playing in the WNBA for six seasons, Williams-Jeter has made coaching stops at Kansas, Kentucky, Penn State, Ohio State, and most recently Wittenberg. As head coach of the Tigers, she led them to an 18-8 overall record, a NCAC Tournament Championship, and a berth in the 2022 NCAA DIII Tournament for the first time since 2014-15.

SERIES HISTORY
The Flyers lead the all-time series with the Redbirds, 3-1, including a 2-0 record for Dayton in front of their home crowd.

In their last meeting back on Dec. 5, 2021, former Redbird JuJu Redmond recorded her second 20+ point performance of the season, but it would be the Flyers holding on for a 78-67 win at Redbird Arena. The victory brought Dayton their second straight win over ISU in the series.

The 'Birds also saw Mary Crompton tally 16 points in the contest to go along with Maya Wong pacing ISU with seven rebounds and four assists in the game. For Dayton, it would be the duo of Erin Whalen and Makira Cook leading the way, with 18 and 17 points, respectively.

GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN

On August 20, 2022, Illinois State women's basketball lost one of their own as former standout Simone Goods lost a courageous battle with cancer. Goods finished her time as a Redbird with 2019 All-MVC First Team honors as well as finishing in the program's top-25 for field goals made in a season (190), rebounds in a season (238), career free-throws (227), career blocks (51) and blocks in a season (33).

This season, ISU players will have an "SG" patch on their jerseys as well as the coaching staff will wear one of their game day attire to honor the life and legacy of Simone Goods as they dedicate the 2022-23 season in her honor.

MILESTONE WATCH

With 214 three-pointers so far in her Redbird career, graduate student Mary Crompton sits only 16 triples away from breaking Kristi Cirone's program record of 229 triples as a Redbird.

The Iowa City, Iowa native also stands with 879 points in her career, as she will look to become the 30^th Redbird, second under head coach Kristen Gillespie, to amass the 1,000-point plateau.

NEW FACES ALL AROUND

Throughout the 2022-23 season, 7 of Illinois State's opponents (or possible opponents) will be under the direction of a first-year head coach. Four of the seven new faces will come during MVC play as Missouri State, Southern Illinois, Bradley, and UIC all made coaching hires during the offseason.

NOVEMBER BLUES

When playing in the month of November, the Redbirds have gone 72-91 all-time. Also, Thursday marks the first time an ISU women's basketball team will play on November 10.

REDBIRDS IN SEASON OPENERS

In the 51 previous seasons of Illinois State women's basketball, the Redbirds are 23-28 in their season openers. Additionally, when on the road, the 'Birds have gone 6-23 all-time to open a season.

NEW NAME, SAME ARENA

Illinois State University and CEFCU have come to terms on a naming rights and sponsorship agreement valued at approximately $3.1 million over 10 years. The agreement, which will support the funding for ongoing and ever-evolving costs associated with the student-athlete experience, was initiated by LEARFIELD's Redbird Sports Properties, the University's athletics multimedia rightsholder. The former Redbird Arena will be known as CEFCU Arena – Home of the Redbirds, with the University's Board of Trustees approving the arena name change at its October 14 meeting. The CEFCU Arena naming rights and sponsorship agreement will continue to support funding of the Redbird Student-Athlete experience. Particularly in these ever-evolving times, funding is vital to maintaining and expanding upon the current NCAA, Division I student-athlete experience.

SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets are available for the 2022-23 season. Follow this link to purchase your season tickets or contact the Athletics Ticket Office at (309) 438-8000 for more information. Tickets start at just $65 for general admission to the women's season. 

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.