ISU closes out regular season on the road

[March 01, 2012]  NORMAL -- After splitting the final two home games of the regular season, the Illinois State women's basketball team looks to get back to their winning ways in the final series of the regular season against Evansville on Thursday and Southern Illinois on Saturday.

For her performance last week, Jamie Russell earned her sixth Valley Newcomer of the Week honor on Monday. Russell has recorded double-digit performances in 15 of Illinois State's last 17 games and played a large part in both games for the Redbirds over the weekend. Over the two games, Russell tallied 35 points, averaging to 17.5 points per game, which led the team in scoring. She also led the team with six assists and eight steals over two games.

Illinois State leads the all-time series with Evansville 24-12. In games played at Evansville, ISU has a 13-4 advantage over the Purple Aces.

FLASHBACK: JAN. 1, 2012 -- ILLINOIS STATE 62, EVANSVILLE 49

Katie Broadway scored a game-high 24 points with seven rebounds to help Illinois State top Evansville 62-49 in Missouri Valley Conference play on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena. Along with Broadway's double-figure scoring effort, Jamie Russell and Candace Sykes contributed 13 and 11 points, respectively. Sykes tallied a double-double with a team-best 13 rebounds. Evansville's Briyana Blair also had a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds, while Meagan Collins led the Purple Aces with 13 points. Illinois State shot 35 percent from the field, compared with Evansville's 31 percent. The Redbirds also outrebounded the Purple Aces 52-37.

ILLINOIS STATE-EVANSVILLE SERIES

Illinois State leads the all-time series with Evansville 24-12. The series began when Evansville joined the Valley in 1995, with ISU winning the first eight meetings. Illinois State holds a slight 15-12 advantage since then, including 11 wins in the last 13 games. The Redbirds are 13-4 all-time against the Purple Aces in Evansville, Ind., winning the last six matchups at Evansville.

FLASHBACK: DEC. 30, 2011 -- ILLINOIS STATE 75, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 51

Four Redbirds scored in double figures to lead Illinois State past Southern Illinois 75-51 in the Missouri Valley Conference opener on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena. Jamie Russell led all scorers with 19 points, nine rebounds and four steals, while Marley Hall contributed 16 points with nine rebounds. Candace Sykes had 13 points and six rebounds, and Katie Broadway scored 10 points with five boards. The Redbirds shot 40 percent from the field compared with Southern Illinois' 28 percent. Illinois State committed 13 turnovers and the Salukis had 21 turnovers, which ISU converted into 25 points. SIU was led by Cartaesha Macklin's 18 points.

ILLINOIS STATE-SOUTHERN ILLINOIS SERIES

Illinois State leads the all-time series with Southern Illinois 49-38. In the longest running series in school history, Illinois State has played Southern Illinois annually since 1972. The Redbirds went 22-5 against the Salukis through 1985. After that, SIU posted a 29-13 record in the series, including a string of 12 straight wins. The Redbirds have won eight straight over the Salukis. SIU has a slight 19-18 advantage over ISU in games played at Carbondale.

BRINGING IN THE HONORS

For the sixth time this season, on Monday junior transfer Jamie Russell was named the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week. Russell also received the honor on Nov. 28, Jan. 2, Jan. 16, Feb. 6 and Feb. 13. Russell has played a crucial part for the Redbirds on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball during the 2011-12 season. On the season, Russell leads ISU in steals (70) and assists (96) and is the team's second-leading scorer with 13.1 points per game. Her performance over the weekend helped the Redbirds move into a tie for second place in the Valley. Against Wichita State and Missouri State, Russell tallied 35 points, averaging to 17.5 points per game, which led the team in scoring. She also led the team with six assists and eight steals over two games. She averaged five rebounds per game over the weekend and shot 52 percent from the field.

A STREAK IS BROKEN

After defeating Wichita State at home on Feb. 23, the Illinois State women's basketball team held a 24-game Missouri Valley Conference win streak of games played on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena, which was the third-best all-time in league history. That streak was snapped in an overtime loss Sunday against Missouri State. The Lady Bears defeated the Redbirds 80-76. Prior to the loss to MSU, the last time ISU lost to a Valley foe in Redbird Arena was during the 2009-10 season, when Creighton topped the Redbirds 69-44 on Jan. 2, 2010. It was the second overtime game this season for ISU. The Redbirds defeated Drake 71-67 in overtime on Jan. 20 at Redbird Arena.

ON THE BOARDS

In Illinois State's overtime loss against Missouri State on Sunday, the Lady Bears dominated the boards, outrebounding ISU 54-38. MSU also brought down 20 offensive boards, which tied the most offensive boards by an ISU opponent this season. By controlling the boards, MSU was able to get 25 second-chance points, compared with ISU's eight, the most second-chance points by an opponent this season.

YES, SHE "CAN"

Against Missouri State on Sunday, junior guard Candace Sykes scored a career-high 21 points, shooting 8 of 17 from the field, and led all scorers in the overtime loss. It is the third time this season that Sykes has made 20 or more points in a game, which she also accomplished against Northern Illinois on Nov. 26 and Bradley on Feb. 12, sinking 20 points in both games.

IN THE PAINT

Illinois State scored 26 points in the paint, compared with Wichita State's 16 points, in the 68-62 victory on Feb. 23. Against Missouri State, ISU also made 26 points in the paint. It was the 14th time this season that ISU has scored 26 points or more points in the paint. When ISU scores 26 or more points in the paint, the Redbirds hold a record of 10-4.

BATTLE TO THE END

On Thursday, the Redbirds and the Shockers competed for the second time this season, and it was a battle to the finish, especially in the second half. WSU was a game ahead of ISU in the MVC standings and tied with Missouri State for first place, while the Redbirds were in sole possession of third place. In the first half, there were four lead changes, but a back-and-forth second half saw 10 lead changes. The 14 lead changes during the game are the most for the Redbirds this season.

[Text from file received from Illinois State]