Women’s Basketball Welcomes Evansville to CEFCU Arena Sunday

NORMAL, Ill. – Looking to make it six straight wins in 2023, Illinois State women’s basketball (12-5, 6-1 MVC) welcomes Evansville (8-7, 3-4 MVC) to CEFCU Arena Sunday. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CT as the game will be broadcasted on ESPN+ with Scott Sudikoff and Sean Johnson on the call.

Greg Halbleib will have the radio call for ISU fans, which can be found on the Varsity Network or WJBC 102.1 FM & 1230 AM.

GAME INFORMATION

v. Evansville (Game Notes)
When: Sunday, Jan. 22
Tip-off: 2:00 p.m. CT
Location: Normal, Ill.
Facility: CEFCU Arena
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Listen: WJBC 1230 AM /102.1 FM

LAST TIME OUT

As the Redbirds of Illinois State women’s basketball returned home for the first time in 19 days, it would be the veteran efforts of Mary Crompton leading the way as the Redbirds (12-5, 6-1 MVC) defeated Indiana State (7-9, 2-5 MVC) by a final of 78-68 inside CEFCU Arena Friday night (full recap).

Friday marked the eighth straight series win for the Redbirds over the Sycamores, as Illinois State has not dropped a result to them since January 11, 2019, in Terre Haute (59-44). The win also marked the fifth double-digit margin of victory for the Redbirds against Indiana State under the direction of Kristen Gillespie.

Mary Crompton led the way for Illinois State as she would tie a career-high with 27 points, including 6-9 from three-point range and 9-9 from the free-throw line (a new career high for makes and attempts for the Iowa City native). Meanwhile, Crompton saw Kate Bullman (12 points) and DeAnna Wilson (11 points) join her in double figures Friday. 

Both Bullman and Wilson finished the night with a team-high six rebounds while it was the returning Paige Robinson who led Illinois State with eight assists in the win. 

The Sycamores were led in scoring Friday by a combined 32 (16 apiece) from Chelsea Cain and Del’Janae Williams. Cain also grabbed a team-leading 11 rebounds, becoming the first ISU opponent with a double-double since Missouri State’s Kennedy Taylor and Indya Green did so on January 5.

SCOUTING THE PURPLE ACES

Evansville comes to Normal after defeating Bradley on Friday, led by the efforts of Normal native Abby Feit, who saw 28 points and 12 rebounds against the Braves.

This MVC season, when playing on the road, the Purple Aces are 2-1 with wins over Valparaiso and the latest win over Bradley. The one road loss came to UIC earlier this season. Heading into Sunday, the Purple Aces are the 5^th highest scoring offense amongst MVC programs, averaging 67.8 points.

The Purple Aces are led by second-year head coach, Robyn Scherr-Wells. Last season, she led the Aces to eight wins, the most by an Evansville team since winning 14 games in 2016-17. The Aces also earned the no. 9 seed at Hoops in the Heartland, its highest seed since 2016-17 as well.

One of the hallmarks of Scherr-Wells as head coach at UE has been playing fast. She would achieve her goal of getting Evansville to play fast last season, as they finished 35^th in the nation with 74.7 possessions per 40 minutes.

She came to the River City after spending seven seasons as a head coach in the NAIA with Roosevelt University and Davenport University. While with those programs, Scherr-Wells amassed a 144-83 (.634) record and would capture six conference championships in the process.

SERIES HISTORY WITH EVANSVILLE

Sunday serves as the 60^th overall meeting between the Aces and Redbirds. Illinois State holds a 40-19 series lead, winning 10 straight, and are a perfect 6-0 at home against Evansville under Kristen Gillespie.

In the last meeting in February 2022, the Redbirds used a balanced attack to overcome the Purple Aces, with four players finishing in double figures. However, it was Kate Bullman shining bright on the defense as she would tie the program’s single-game block record with 8 blocks on the night.

Evansville was led by 16 points from Je’Naiya Davis while Abby Feit added seven points and eight rebounds.

LEADING THE WAY

Illinois State joined UNI at the top of the Valley standings at 6-1 with Friday’s win over Indiana State. The Redbirds currently ride a Valley-best five game win streak.

Drake sits alone in third place entering the weekend, sitting at 5-2. Murray State, Missouri State, Belmont, and Southern Illinois are all tied for fourth at 4-3 through seven league contests.  

MILESTONES TO WATCH

Head coach Kristen Gillespie sits with 99 wins at ISU, as she is looking 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 has now started 99 games as a Redbird. As the season rolls on, Crompton sits only one start 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.

LIGHTS OUT SHOOTING

Illinois State rippled the net 14 times from three-point range Friday against the Sycamores, the most three-pointers allowed by an Indiana State team since Dec. 9, 2006, when Green Bay knocked down 14.

The 14 triples also marked the first time an MVC opponent has made as many from deep against Indiana State since Missouri State did so with 19 on Jan. 16, 2005.

BLONO SHOWING OUT

Friday night’s crowd of 2,402 was the highest attendance at home for the Redbirds in a non-Education Day game in nearly 10 years. Illinois State was able to see 3,114 pack into then-Redbird Arena back in February 2013 against Creighton. 

CLIMBING IN THE MVC RANKS

Graduate guard Mary Crompton continues to leave her mark from three-point range. After setting a career-high with seven made triples at Dayton, she would tie that mark last Sunday at Belmont, going 7-13 from deep.

Thanks to her overall career efforts from deep, Crompton currently sits tied for 6^th-overall in MVC career three-pointers made with 266.

GETTING OFF TO A HOT START

As Illinois State held Belmont to four points in the first quarter on Jan. 15, it marks the 32^nd time since 2017-18 that ILS has held an opponent to single digit scoring in the first quarter. In the previous 32 instances, 19 have come against MVC opponents, including back-to-back games of last year’s Hoops in the Heartland Tournament.

The four points allowed on Sunday were the fewest first quarter points allowed since last year’s Hoops in the Heartland Quarterfinals against Loyola Chicago. Overall, when allowing single digits in the first quarter, ISU is 25-7 since 2017-18.

MAKING A VALLEY IMPACT

With a win on Friday, Illinois State matched its best seven-game start in Missouri Valley Conference play (6-1) since 2009-10.

In the last 13 seasons, the Redbirds have begun MVC play with a mark of 6-1 through seven games twice (2009-10; 2021-22). The most wins in MVC play for ISU before having two losses came during the 2009-10 season, when ISU would start 15-1.

RISING IN THE RECORD BOOKS

Junior forward Kate Bullman is slowly but surely moving her way up the all-time ranks in ISU history for career blocks. As the season is now in sole MVC focus, Bullman currently sits with 94 career blocks, good for sixth all-time.

The Grayslake native now sits one block from tying fifth place, which is 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 1/21/23).  

PLAYING BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL

Thanks to their efforts thus far, ISU currently ranks top-100 in five categories (as of 1/21/23) across Division I WBB while being top five in the MVC for each category, respectively.

CALM, COOL, COLLECTED

So far this season, redshirt junior Maya Wong has cemented herself as one of the nation’s best from the free-throw line.

As of 1/21/23, the Normal native is tied for sixth nationally for free throw percentage.

REBOUND MACHINE

As part of Illinois State’s hard-fought 59-56 win in Carbondale on January 7, junior Kate Bullman would set a new career-high in rebounds.

The Grayslake native grabbed 14 rebounds (9 defensive boards) against the Salukis to surpass her previous career high of 13, set versus Valparaiso on January 13, 2022. 

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 12 wins this season, Illinois State is shooting 43.2% from the field and 40.0% 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.

ROAD WARRIORS

With wins over Missouri State and Southern Illinois on Jan. 5 and 7, it marked the first time since Feb. 2019 that the Redbirds won back-to-back games in Springfield and Carbondale.

In fact, the two wins saw the Lady Bears and Salukis drop consecutive games against an MVC opponent for the first time in that span as well.

GAINING NATIONAL RECOGNITION

Illinois State comes in as the highest ranked MVC program, thanks to another successful road trip, in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major top-25 (Jan. 17).

The Redbirds (#14) are joined in the rankings by 2022-23 opponents Green Bay (#11), UNI (#15), and Drake (#20).  

TIME AWAY FROM HOME

The four straight road victories for Illinois State across Missouri, Illinois, and Tennessee from Jan. 5-15 is the first time since the 2009-10 season that the Redbirds have won four straight road games in MVC play (UNI, Bradley, Evansville, Southern Illinois).

In the 2009-10 season, Illinois State ended up making it all the way to the WNIT semifinals before falling to California in front of 6,075 fans.

CASTING A WIDE NET (RANKING) FOR THE VALLEY

The NCAA NET Report (Jan. 16) has four Valley teams that rank in the top-100, including six of the 12 sitting in the top-130. Drake leads the way at no. 51 with UNI (70), Murray State (93), and Illinois State (96) rounding out the schools in the top-100. Belmont (109) and Missouri State (127) rank in the top 130.

Only seven other leagues have six or more teams in the top 130 of the NET (ACC, American, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, MVC, Pac-12, and SEC).

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 27^th all-time for ISU scoring leaders. 

49 YEARS IN THE MAKING

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

As part of the program’s annual Education Day (huge shoutout to ISU Marketing’s Danny Bugg and Lauren Henderson) on Dec. 6, 2022, 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, 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.