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Women's
Basketball
Redbirds Face Green Bay in Home Opener
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[November 15, 2007]
NORMAL -- The Illinois State
women's basketball team (1-0) opens its home schedule against NR/ARV
Green Bay (1-0) tonight (Thursday) at 7:05. The game jump-starts a
four-day stretch in which the Redbirds will play three games. After
the game, the 'Birds will head down to Tampa to take part in the USF
Shootout. It is the most regular-season games ISU has played in such
a short period of time since 1998.
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 Head coach Robin Pingeton feels her team is well-prepared for the
quick turnaround."When we play in the conference tournament, we
have to play three games in three days, so this stretch is good
practice for us," Pingeton said. "We just need to get plenty of rest
and stay focused. We are going to face some real quality opponents
in the next few games and it will be a good test for our team."
ISU is coming off an 81-68 season-opening victory against Eastern
Illinois on Sunday. The Redbirds were fueled by an 18-6 run to start
the second half, turning a 3-point halftime lead into a double-digit
advantage. Junior guard Kristi Cirone scored a game-high 23 points,
and senior guard Tiffany Hudson tied her career high with 18 points.
Sophomore forward Ashleen Bracey led the 'Birds with seven rebounds
in her first career start.
Cirone continued to make Redbird history in the first game of the
season. Her first 3-point field goal of the game was the 100th of
her career, making her the seventh player in ISU history to achieve
that feat. She added three more in the game and is currently in
sixth place on the all-time 3-pointer list with 103 career triples.
[to top of second column]
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The Redbirds are 10-9 in home openers in Redbird Arena since the
1988-89 season, their first in the facility, including a 4-0 mark
under Pingeton. They are looking for their first-ever win against
Green Bay. The Phoenix are 4-0 all-time against ISU and are one of
eight teams the Redbirds have played more than once and never
beaten. Last season, Green Bay rode a 31-for-33 performance from the
free-throw line to a 92-64 victory over ISU.
Green Bay is in the middle of a three-game road swing against
Missouri Valley Conference opponents. The Phoenix opened the season
with a 78-66 win at Drake on Friday. Senior guard Kayla Groh led
five Phoenix players in double figures, with 20 points, to give
first-year head coach Matt Bollant his first win at the school.
After taking on the Redbirds, Green Bay will visit Missouri State on
Saturday.
[Text from file received from
Jimmy Knodel, assistant media relations director, Illinois State
University, Illinois
State University]
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