NORMAL, Ill. – After securing their first Missouri Valley Conference win of 2022-23, the Redbirds of the Illinois State women's basketball will look to keep the momentum rolling in a rematch of the 2022 Hoops in the Heartland Tournament Championship Sunday afternoon.
Illinois State welcomes UNI to CEFCU Arena Sunday for a 2:00 p.m. CT tip, as it is the Valley Game of the Week. Kelly Burke and Scott Warmann have the call on ESPN+, while Greg Halbleib provides the radio call on the Varsity Network or WJBC 102.1 FM & 1230 AM.Â
GAME INFORMATION (Game Notes (PDF))
Illinois State v. UNI
When:Â Sunday, Jan. 1
Tip-off:Â 2:00 p.m. CT
Location:Â Normal, Ill.
Facility:Â CEFCU Arena
TV:Â Valley on ESPN
Live Stats:Â StatBroadcast Live Stats
Radio: Illinois State Radio Network           1230 AM & 102.1 FM
LAST TIME OUT
Led by a masterful team performance, including a combined 44 points from Mary Crompton and Paige Robinson, Illinois State women's basketball was able to grind out an 87-76 win over Drake Friday night to start MVC play (full recap).
After going back-and-forth in the first 10 minutes, Illinois State would separate itself from Drake as they would build their lead to as many as 17 as the media timeout was called at 4:26 in the second with the Redbirds leading 43-26.
The Bulldogs would respond effectively as they closed the deficit to end the half, going on a 7-0 run over the last 2:15 of play to trail 49-38 heading into the break.
Straight out of the halftime break, ISU would pick up their stifling defense as they held the Bulldogs scoreless for the first 4:51 of the frame. In that span, ISU would outscore Drake 11-2 as they held a 22-point lead (60-38) with 5:09 remaining.
Merely minutes later, graduate student Mary Crompton would knock down her sixth three-pointer of the game, with 3:08 left in the third, to become the 30th Redbird to eclipse the 1,000 point-mark. Crompton also becomes only the second Redbird to achieve this honor under the direction of Kristen Gillespie, after Juliunn Redmond would hit 1,000 points during last season.
After Crompton's history-making three, the Redbird lead did not fall under 16 for the remainder of the quarter, as ISU would go into the fourth with a 70-54 lead.
Drake was led Friday by Grace Berg's 17 points. Meanwhile, both Anna Miller and Maggie Bair would notch a double-double on Friday as Miller finished with a career-high 19 points to go along with 11 rebounds. Bair saw 13 points and 12 rebounds to her name on the night.
SCOUTING THEÂ PANTHERS
UNI comes into Sunday's contest after winning their first MVC game of the season Friday night, a 83-64 win at Bradley. The Panthers were led by a record-breaking third quarter, where they outscored the Braves 34-9 including holding Bradley scoreless for six minutes, en route to a new offensive record of most points in a quarter and the overall win.
When playing on the road in 2022-23, the Panthers have gone 1-2 overall, with their lone road win being the MVC season opening win against Bradley.
At the helm of the program, in her 14th season, is Tanya Warren. Warren is a three-time Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year and guided the Panthers to league regular-season titles in 2011 and 2016. She is also the first black female head coach in UNI history and the first black female head coach in Missouri Valley Conference basketball history.
Warren has compiled an overall coaching mark of 249-181 (.579), ranking her first all-time in victories in school history and no. 5 in the MVC. Under her direction, the Panthers have appeared in postseason play in nine of the last 10 seasons (excluding 2019-20 because of COVID restrictions), including back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths in 2010 and 2011. She also led the Panthers to the program's first victory in the WNIT during the 2012-13 season.
Under her direction, the Panthers have also won two MVC Tournament championships (2010, 2011). UNI has posted at least 17 overall wins and a top-half finish in conference play during each of the last 11 seasons.
Warren has coached 10 different All-MVC selections and instilled the word "student" into her programs, finishing in the top-25 in the country in team GPA in 10 of her first 12 years as head coach.
SERIES HISTORY WITH UNI
Sunday marks the 87th all-time meeting for UNI and Illinois State. The Redbirds currently hold the slim 46-40 series lead, including a 26-15 record at home and 41-35 record in conference play against the Panthers. Â
In the last meeting last March, Illinois State punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament, defeating UNI, 50-48, at the TaxSlayer Center in the title game of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Championship. Juliunn Redmond led all scorers with 21 points, as Maya Wong finished just two shy of her career-high in points with 15 points and four assists.
Kate Bullman had a game-high nine rebounds paired with four points. UNI was led by senior Karli Rucker who had 16 points.
WELCOME TO THE 1K CLUB
With her three-pointer at 3:08 in the third quarter versus Drake (12/30/22), graduate student Mary Crompton officially joined ISU's 1,000-point club. This made the Iowa City native the 30th member and only the second player (Juliunn Redmond) to reach the milestone under head coach Kristen Gillespie.
As her career continues, Crompton currently sits in 29th all-time for ISU scoring leaders.Â
|
NAME
|
PTS
|
YEAR
|
|
25. Tami Baalke
|
1,105
|
1989-93
|
|
26. Shala Jackson
|
1,099
|
2007-11
|
|
27. Tammy Turner
|
1,077
|
1982-86
|
|
28. Valarie Trame
|
1,077
|
1994-98
|
|
29. Mary Crompton
|
1,003+
|
2018-present
|
|
30. Octavia Crump
|
1,000
|
2012-16
|
QUICK START IS CRUCIAL
Since 1982-83, just three teams (Missouri State, champions in 1998-99, 1994-95, and 1990-91; Drake, champions in 1996-97 and co-champions in 1987-88; and Evansville, a 2007-08 co-champion) have won at least a share of the regular season title without winning its regular season opener.
In fact, 17 of the last 22 regular season champs (or co-champs) have opened 2-0 or better in MVC play, with Evansville in 2007-08, Missouri State in 2004-05, UNI in 2010-11, Missouri State in 2011-12, and UNI in 2015-16 serving as the only five exceptions.
49 YEARS TOO LONG
As part of a record-breaking weekend in Vegas for the Redbirds, the Illinois State women's basketball program would match their best program start in 49 years after taking down the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters on Nov. 26.
With the 70-53 victory, the Redbirds would sit at 5-0 to start the 2022-23 season. This matched the best program start in 49 years, when ISU would start the 1973-74 season with the same record.
BROKEN RECORDS
It had been over 12 years on Dec. 6 since Illinois State women's basketball had seen over 6,000 fans in attendance inside CEFCU Arena. As part of the program's annual Education Day (huge shoutout to ISU Marketing's Danny Bugg and Lauren Henderson), the Redbirds saw a new home attendance record be set as 6,363 school children, staff, admin., and longtime Redbird fans piled into CEFCU to watch ISU take on UMSL.
Prior to Dec. 6, 2022, the previous record stood at 6,075 which was set during the 2010 WNIT when California paid Normal a visit.
SHOOTING IS KEY
When dissecting the win-loss total for the Redbirds in 2022-23, the way Illinois State shoots can be a valid indicator for the overall result.
In their seven wins in 2022-23, Illinois State is shooting 42.7% from the field and 41.2% from three-point range. Meanwhile, in their four losses, the shooting drops to 35.2% from the field and 26.7% from three-point range.
CASTING A WIDE NET (RANKING) FOR THE VALLEY
The NCAA NET Report (Dec. 28) has four Valley teams that rank in the top-100, including six of the 12 sitting in the top-150. Â Drake leads the way at no. 47 with UNI (72), Belmont (87), and Murray State (92) rounding out the schools in the top-100.
As a league, the Missouri Valley Conference is ranked 12th.
|
TEAM
|
NET
|
|
Drake
|
47
|
|
UNI
|
72
|
|
Belmont
|
87
|
|
Murray State
|
92
|
|
Illinois State
|
117
|
|
Missouri State
|
134
|
|
UIC
|
151
|
|
Evansville
|
212
|
|
Southern Illinois
|
234
|
|
Indiana State
|
243
|
|
Valparaiso
|
288
|
|
Bradley
|
331
|
BATTLE OF MID-MAJOR HEAVYWEIGHTS
When the Panthers and Redbirds tip off Friday, it will feature a pair of the nation's top-20 mid-major programs, according to CollegeInsider.com.
Illinois State currently sits at no. 16 while UNI is right behind the Redbirds with their current placement of no. 19 in the latest poll.
MILESTONE WATCH
Head coach Kristen Gillespie is inching closer to history of her own, sitting with 94 career wins at ISU and 199 career wins as a head coach.
Gillespie is seeking to become the first ISU head coach to eclipse 100 career wins as a Redbird since current Missouri head coach Robin Pingeton, who finished her ISU career with a mark of 144-81 over seven seasons.
MAKING THEMSELVES KNOWN
As they have done all season, the Redbirds see a trio of athletes making their mark across the top-100 in various statistical categories, in both DI WBB and the MVC (as of 12/31/22). Â
|
CATEGORY
|
VALUE
|
NCAA
|
MVC
|
|
Minutes (Paige)
|
35.4
|
44th
|
1st
|
|
PPG (Paige)
|
20.3
|
20th
|
1st
|
|
3PT FG% (Mary)
|
.485
|
15th
|
1st
|
|
3PT/Game (Mary)
|
2.9
|
24th
|
1st
|
|
Free Throw Pct (Maya)
|
.968
|
4th
|
1st
|
PLAYING BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL
Thanks to their efforts thus far, ISU currently ranks top-100 in four categories (as of 12/31/22) across Division I WBB while being top three in the MVC for each category, respectively.
|
CATEGORY
|
VALUE
|
NCAA
|
MVC
|
|
3PT FG%
|
.362
|
30th
|
2nd
|
|
Blocks Per Game
|
4.36
|
t-53rd
|
2nd
|
|
Turnover Margin
|
4.00
|
58th
|
1st
|
|
Free Throw Pct
|
.741
|
76th
|
2nd
|
WELCOME TO THE HALL OF FAME
Illinois State women's basketball legend Cathy Boswell was selected as one of five to be inducted as the 24th Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Class this past Sunday morning. The members for the Class of 2023 are Cathy Boswell (Veteran Player), Donna Lopiano (Contributor), Lisa Mattingly (Official), Carolyn Peck (Coach), and Lindsey Whalen (Player).
Boswell (1979-83) was a two-time WBCA Kodak All-American and two-time Wade Trophy finalist during her time at ISU, finishing her collegiate career with 2,005 points and 1,054 rebounds. She led the Redbirds to 90 wins, an NCAA Tournament berth in 1983, a 15th-place finish in the AIAW National Tournament in 1981 and two WNIT bids (1980 and 1982). Boswell was a member of the 1984 women's Olympic gold medalist USA basketball team and competed internationally for 14 years, earning seven team most valuable player awards, one league MVP title, a player of the year award and five league championships.
The Class of 2023 will be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, receiving their coveted Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Trophy and Baron Championship Induction Ring on April 29th, 2023, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
GAINING NATIONAL RECOGNITION
For the week of December 27, Illinois State drops four spots after finishing non-conference play, as they sit at no. 16 in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major top-25.
Joining the 'Birds in this week's top-25 are 2022-23 opponents Drake (#7), Green Bay (#14), and Northern Iowa (#19). Meanwhile, fellow MVC members Belmont, UIC, and Murray State are all receiving votes. Â
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 and staff will don an "SG" patch on their jerseys and gameday attire to honor the life and legacy of Simone Goods as ISU is dedicating the 2022-23 season in her honor.
NEW FACES ALL AROUND
Throughout the 2022-23 season, seven 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.
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.
REDBIRDS SIGN FOUR TO NLI's
Earlier this season as part of National Signing Day, the Illinois State women's basketball program announced the signings of four high-level talent as part of 2022 National Signing Day. The 2023 recruiting class includes Brooke Coffey (St. Charles, Mo.), Shannon Dowell (O'Fallon, Ill.), Molly Lenz (Eden Prairie, Minn.), and Savannah McGowan (Minneapolis, Minn.).
Coffey, a 6-1 guard from St. Charles Mo., has led the Incarnate Word to 68 straight wins, including multiple state titles, as the program has now captured a total of 12 MO Class 6 Championships. Finally, Coffey will join former Redbirds Kayel Newland and Cameron Call as well as current ISU athlete, DeAnna Wilson, as athletes for ISU women's basketball under Kristen Gillespie to hail from the state of Missouri.
Dowell, a 5-10 guard from O'Fallon, Ill., comes from O'Fallon Township High where she was named First Team Southwestern All-Conference in 2021-22 along with Third Team All State for the IBCA following last year. Dowell has had the chance to learn from five-time IBCA Co-Coach of the Year in District 19 4A (Coach Knolhoff) and amassed 1,000 career points in her junior year as a Panther.
Lenz, a 5-8 guard from Eden Prairie, Minn., was awarded 2021-22 Lake Conference All-Conference and Minnesota Girls Basketball Association All-State Honorable Mention honors. As a junior, Lenz was selected as one of Eden Prairie's three Varsity captains. Lenz will join former Redbird Viria Livingston (from Minneapolis) and fellow signee Savannah McGowan as athletes to come from Minnesota and play for ISU under head coach Gillespie.
McGowan, a 6-2 forward from Minneapolis, Minn., amassed 1,000 career points during her junior season for the Armstrong High Falcons, gaining her All-State honorable mention honors. McGowans joins former Redbird Viria Livingston (also from Minneapolis) as athletes to come from Minnesota and play for ISU under head coach Gillespie.
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.Â
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:Â Â Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
