Redbirds Primed for Road Trip to Missouri State, Southern Illinois

NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's basketball team (7-5, 1-1 MVC) will begin a four-game road trip this weekend, facing off with Missouri State (7-4, 2-0 MVC) on Thursday before taking on Southern Illinois (5-6, 2-0 MVC) on Saturday. Thursday's game tips off at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+ with Saturday's match-up slated for a 2 p.m. CT start on ESPN3.

Greg Halbleib provides the radio call for this weekend as both games will be available via the Varsity Networks. Thursday's game can be found on the Varsity Network or WJBC 102.1 FM & 1230 AM. Meanwhile, Saturday will be on the Varsity Network or FM 93.7.

GAME INFORMATION

at Missouri State (Game Notes)
When: Thursday, Jan. 5
Tip-off: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Springfield, Mo.
Facility: Great Southern Bank Arena
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Listen: WJBC 1230 AM/102.1 FM

at Southern Illinois
When: Saturday, Jan. 7
Tip-off: 2 p.m. CT
Location: Carbondale, Ill.
Facility: Banterra Center
Watch: ESPN3
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Listen: WJBC FM 93.7

LAST TIME OUT

Four Redbirds finished in double figures, but it was not enough as Illinois State women's basketball suffered their first MVC loss of the season, a 74-64 final against UNI Sunday afternoon (full recap).

The lead would spread to as many as nine in the final minutes of the first, as ISU led 23-17 after the first 10 minutes. The second quarter would be the main storyline of how Sunday's contest would end, as UNI responded with higher intensity on defense and outscored ISU 20-5 over the second 10 minutes of play.

Mary Crompton would knock down a three-pointer with 9:09 remaining, but from there ISU would be held without a point for nearly eight minutes of game time (1:54). Meanwhile, UNI trailed by nine after Crompton's three, but would go on an 18-0 run to build their lead to 35-26 with the clock under two minutes.

ISU would see Hannah Kelle trim the lead to seven after knocking down a pair of free throws, but the Panthers got the lead back to nine shortly after as they led 37-28 heading into the break.

The Panthers came out just as strong in the third, grabbing a 13-point lead with a pair of quick points before Bullman got ISU's first field goal since Crompton's three to start the second quarter (nearly 10 minutes of game time).

The Redbirds saw Paige Robinson get her first points with a three-pointer with 7:15 remaining in the third, to make it an eight-point game before UNI reacted to regrow the lead out to 14 over the next minute.

UNI would be led by Grace Boffeli's 25 points; the first time ISU has seen an opponent score 25 since Iowa's Caitlin Clark in last year's March Madness. The sophomore would also gather 12 rebounds to lead the Panthers, becoming the second straight MVC opponent with a double-double effort against ISU.

SCOUTING THE LADY BEARS

After coming off a 2-0 weekend to start MVC play, Missouri State sees the Missouri Valley's longest current win streak, winning five straight in 2022-23 after beginning the year 2-4.

Since the beginning of the 2017-18 season, MSU has compiled a 60-10 record inside Great Southern Bank Arena, while boasting a 39-4 record since the start of the 2019-20 season. Since the start of the 2019-20 season, MSU's 39-4 home record has come by an average score of 71.9-54.8 with a plus-11.7 rebound margin.

Leading the way for Missouri State, in her first season in Springfield, is Beth Cunningham. Cunningham comes to Springfield after spending time at Duke University, as an assistant coach on Kara Lawson's staff. Prior to her time at Duke, she would spend eight seasons (2012-20) as an associate head coach at her alma mater, Notre Dame, for Hall of Fame Coach Muffet McGraw.

As part of the Irish coaching staff, Cunningham was part of one of the best stretches in NCAA women's history as Notre Dame compiled a 244-19 record, including seven straight 30-win seasons, six conference titles, five NCAA Final Four appearances, and the 2018 National Championship.

Before making the trip to South Bend, Cunningham spent 11 years on the coaching staff at VCU, including one year as an assistant coach (2001-02), one as associate head coach (2002-03), and nine seasons as head coach starting in 2003-04. Cunningham finished her tenure as the Rams' all-time leader in women's basketball coaching wins with a 167-115 (.592) record and postseason appearances in each of her final five seasons.

SERIES HISTORY WITH MISSOURI STATE

Thursday will be the 83^rd all-time meeting for Missouri State and Illinois State, as the Lady Bears hold the 48-34 series lead. When playing in Springfield, ILS has gone 14-25 overall including 2-2 under the direction of Kristen Gillespie.

In the last meeting on Feb. 18, 2022, a slow start made all the difference for Illinois State as Missouri State snapped ISU's five-game winning streak in a 75-69 loss at then-Redbird Arena. Juliunn Redmon led the 'Birds in scoring for the 13^th time in the season, recording a game-best 23 points with six rebounds and four assists, including a perfect 11-11 from the free throw line.

DeAnna Wilson finished shy of a double-double with 19 points and eight rebounds while Maya Wong posted 14 points and a team-high five assists. Missouri State would see four players finish in double figures, led by 21 points from Mariah White.

SCOUTING THE SALUKIS

As one of the five MVC teams to start 2-0 over the first weekend of action, Southern Illinois will host Bradley on Thursday before welcoming the Redbirds to the Banterra Center on Saturday. The Salukis have started 2022-23 with a record of 5-6, including going 2-3 at home during non-conference play.

Over the first 11 games for Southern Illinois, Ashley Jones leads the team in scoring, averaging 15.3 points per game. She is one of three Salukis averaging double figures, as Shemera Williams (15.0) and Promise Taylor (10.1) are the other athletes averaging at least 10.0 ppg.

Taylor also leads the program with an average of 5.8 boards per game while Jones and Laniah Randle are both averaging 24 assists per contest.

Since the beginning of the 2017-18 season, MSU has compiled a 60-10 record inside Great Southern Bank Arena, while boasting a 39-4 record since the start of the 2019-20 season. Since the start of the 2019-20 season, MSU's 39-4 home record has come by an average score of 71.9-54.8 with a plus-11.7 rebound margin.

The Salukis are led by first year head coach, Kelly Bond-White, who was named head coach in March 2022. Bond-White succeeds Cindy Stein, who retired following the 2021-22 season where Southern Illinois won their first Missouri Valley Conference championship since 2007 and advanced to the WNIT.

Prior to SIU, Kelly Bond-White spent 19 seasons at Texas A&M, serving as Associate Head Coach since the 2007-08 season. As part of the Aggies staff, the program won the 2011 National Championship, made three Elite Eight appearances, won five conference championships, and have appeared in the NCAA Tournament during the last 16 seasons.

Bond-White played a part in 444 wins over the last 18 seasons, an average of 24 wins per year. She would join the program shortly after Gary Blair was hired as she helped lead the Aggies to the NCAA Sweet 16 eight times since 2008. Overall, Bond-White has been apart of 516 victories, coached 40 first or second team all-conference players, and coached 18 Associated Press All-American honorees in her career.

SERIES HISTORY WITH SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

Saturday marks the 110^th all-time meeting between the Salukis and Redbirds. Illinois State holds a 63-46 series lead, including a mark of 27-19 road record against Southern Illinois. Most notably, the Salukis have won the last two meetings in Carbondale, as ISU will look to gather its first road win in the series since Feb. 5, 2021.  

In the last meeting in last year's Hoops in the Heartland Semifinals, Illinois State held the regular season champions Salukis to just 25.6% (11-of-43) shooting from the field through the first three quarters, defeating the Salukis, 50-42.

Juliunn Redmond led all scorers with 18 points, adding four assists and four steals. DeAnna Wilson recorded her third straight double-double, putting up 12 points and 10 rebounds. Finally, Kate Bullman held a game-high 11 boards, along with four points and two blocks.

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 30^th 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 29^th all-time for ISU scoring leaders. 

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	1,013+	2018-present
30. Octavia Crump	1,000	2012-16

TIME AWAY FROM HOME

Since Kristen Gillespie took over the program, Illinois State has only seen four straight road Missouri Valley Conference games once, which came to start the revised 2020-21 MVC season (at UNI and Indiana State).

Prior to this weekend, in a "normal" MVC regular season, the longest road stretch for the Redbirds have been three games (2017-18; 2018-19; 2019-20; 2021-22).

SHOOTING IS KEY

When dissecting the win-loss total for Illinois State in 2022-23, the way the Redbirds shoot has been 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 five losses, the shooting drops to 34.4% from the field and 29.7% from three-point range.

CASTING A WIDE NET (RANKING) FOR THE VALLEY

The NCAA NET Report (Jan. 2) has four Valley teams that rank in the top-100, including six of the 12 sitting in the top-150.  Drake leads the way at no. 57 with UNI (68), Murray State (88), and Belmont (91) rounding out the schools in the top-100.

As a league, the Missouri Valley Conference is ranked 12^th.

TEAM	NET
Drake	57
UNI	68
Murray State	88
Belmont	91
Illinois State	103
Missouri State	123
UIC	153
Southern Illinois	223
Evansville	246
Indiana State	247
Valparaiso	281
Bradley	333

MILESTONES TO 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.

Graduate guard Mary Crompton, through 11 games in 2022-23, has now started 94 games as a Redbird. As the season rolls on, Crompton sits only six starts away from becoming the ninth Redbird WBB athlete to have 100 career starts. The last Redbird to eclipse 100 career starts is former Redbird star, and now head coach at UIC, Ashleen Bracey.

RISING IN THE RECORD BOOKS

As the 2022-23 season continues, junior forward Kate Bullman is slowly but surely moving her way up the all-time ranks in ISU history for career blocks. Thanks to a block against UNI on 1/1/23 at 8:55 in the third, Bullman currently sits tied for sixth all-time with 90 career blocks against ISU legend Caryn Brune.

The Grayslake native now sits five blocks behind fifth place, which is promptly held by the newest announced WBB Hall of Famer for ISU, Cathy Boswell who finished her illustrious career with 95 blocks.

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 1/4/23).  

CATEGORY	VALUE	NCAA	MVC
Minutes (Paige)	35.3	49th	1st
PPG (Paige)	19.4	26th	1st
3PT FG% (Mary)	.493	7th	1st
3PT/Game (Mary)	2.8	t-31st	1st
Free Throw Pct (Maya)	.971	2nd	1st

PLAYING BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL

Thanks to their efforts thus far, ISU currently ranks top-100 in four categories (as of 1/4/23) across Division I WBB while being top three in the MVC for each category, respectively.

CATEGORY	VALUE	NCAA	MVC
3PT FG%	.366	26th	2nd
Blocks Per Game	4.3	48th	2nd
Turnover Margin	3.50	t-76th	1st
Free Throw Pct	.749	65th	2nd

GAINING NATIONAL RECOGNITION

For the week of January 3, it is the UNI Panthers taking over as the highest-ranked MVC team in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major top-25. The Panthers (#!5) are joined in the rankings by ISU (#17) and Drake (#18).

Other notable schools ranked, in regard to the Redbirds, this week is 2022-23 opponent Green Bay (#12). Meanwhile, fellow MVC members Murray State, Belmont, and UIC are all receiving votes.  

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.

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.

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. 

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.