ISU Hosts Shockers, Lady Bears This Weekend

[February 21, 2008]  NORMAL -- The Illinois State women's basketball team (20-3, 10-2 MVC) returns home for the first time in nearly two weeks as it heads down the stretch of the 2007-08 season. The Redbirds host Wichita State (9-16, 3-10 MVC) on Thursday at 7:15 p.m. and then welcome Missouri State (9-15, 7-6 MVC) to Redbird Arena on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. The game against Missouri State is part of a Redbird basketball doubleheader, as the men's team takes on Wright State at 5:30 p.m. in an ESPN Bracketbuster game. The Redbirds will look to maintain sole possession of first place in the Valley with just three more weekends of conference play remaining.

"The second time around against a team is always tough, and even though we may have beaten both Missouri State and Wichita State earlier this season, the coaches in this league do such a great job of scouting and preparing their teams that I am sure we will be in for some tough games this weekend," said head coach Robin Pingeton. "Since we are in first place, when teams come in to play us they have everything to gain and nothing to really lose. They don't have a whole lot of pressure on them, so we have to really prepare ourselves well or else we could come away from this weekend with a loss."

The Redbirds-Shockers series

Illinois State leads the all-time series with Wichita State 33-18. The Redbirds hold an 18-6 advantage in home games against the Shockers. Illinois State dominated the series early on, winning 16 of the first 18 meetings. Wichita State's longest winning streak was four games from 2000-01. The two teams split the season series last year, with each defending its home court. Earlier this year, ISU defeated Wichita State 71-53 at Koch Arena. Under Pingeton, ISU has a 6-3 record against Wichita State.

The Redbirds-Lady Bears series

Missouri State leads the all-time series with Illinois State 30-23. The Redbirds won 12 of the first 17 meetings, including the first six consecutive. Since then, the Bears have posted a 25-11 record against the Redbirds, including winning streaks of five, six and 11 games. ISU has won the last three meetings and earlier this year beat Missouri State 95-59 on the road to claim consecutive road victories for the first time since 1988-89. The Redbirds are 5-6 against the Lady Bears since Pingeton took over.

Back on track

After having its winning streak snapped at 14 games and suffering consecutive losses for the first time this season, Illinois State jumped back on the winning track in a big way. In the last two games, ISU has won by 30 points, held its opponents to less than 60 points and has never trailed. Redbirds are shooting .542 (64-118) from the field, .432 (16-37) from 3-point range and .897 (26-29) from the free-throw line. They are averaging 44.5 rpg and have a 1.22 assist-to-turnover ratio. In contrast, ISU's last two opponents are shooting a combined .270 (33-122) from the field, .276 (8-29) from 3-point range and .596 (28-47) from the free-throw line. They are also averaging 32.5 rpg (giving the Redbirds a plus 12.0 rebound margin) and hold a 0.6 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Cirone named final nominee for the Nancy Liberman Award

Having already made her mark in the Valley in her first two seasons, junior guard Kristi Cirone has emerged as one of the elite point guards in the nation this season. She is a final nominee for the Nancy Lieberman Award, given to the top point guard in the nation. Once a part of a field of 26 players, Cirone is now among nine finalists, including Matee Ajavon of Rutgers, Kimberley Beck of George Washington, Shannon Bobbitt of Tennessee, Leilani Mitchell of Utah, Renee Montgomery of Connecticut, Andrea Riley of Oklahoma State, Kristi Toliver of Maryland and Erica White of LSU. Four finalists will be announced prior to the Final Four, and the winner will be announced during Final Four weekend. Cirone leads the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.30) and is 14th in the country in assists per game (6.2).

[Text from file received from Jimmy Knodel, assistant media relations director, Illinois State University]