 Illinois State is making its fourth straight appearance in the WNIT,
advancing to the semifinals in each of the last three seasons. ISU
is 11-3 in its last three WNIT appearances, including a 9-2 record
at Redbird Arena. Sunday will mark the first time in program history
that the Redbirds and the Wildcats will compete on the hardwood.
The winner of Sunday's game will play the winner of the Colorado and
South Dakota game.
Tickets for the Sunday game are available at $11 for general
admission and $8 for youth under the age of 18. Reggie's Kids Club
members must purchase a ticket to get into the game. Illinois State
students will receive free admission to the game. Red Alert members
need to present their passes at the door, and all other students
should pick up a ticket prior to the game.
Tickets may be purchased in person at the ticket office in
Redbird Arena, by calling 309-438-8000 or online at GoRedbirds.com.
ILLINOIS STATE-VILLANOVA SERIES
Sunday's second-round game marks the first time in program
history that the Redbirds and the Wildcats will play on the
hardwood. Despite never playing Villanova, Illinois State is no
stranger to facing Big East schools, as ISU holds an 18-16 record
over current opponents from the Big East Conference.
ISU IN THE POSTSEASON WNIT
Illinois State is making its 11th postseason appearance in the
WNIT (1980, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1996, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011,
2012) and has an 18-16 all-time record in the tournament. The
Redbirds' 2012 WNIT at-large bid marks the fifth appearance for ISU
in postseason play in the last six seasons. In the last four WNIT
appearances, the Redbirds have a record of 12-4. ISU is 11-2
all-time in WNIT games in Redbird Arena.
SIX-PEAT
Illinois State's berth in the 2012 WNIT puts the Redbirds in the
postseason for the sixth consecutive season. ISU made WNIT trips in
five of the last six years and appeared in the NCAA tournament in
2008. ISU's six-year postseason run is tied for the longest in
school history, matching the six straight trips from 1980-85.
SEEING DOUBLE
Junior guard Candace Sykes has played a crucial part for the
Redbirds offensively and on the boards during the 2011-12 season,
which is why she leads the team with six double-doubles. The St.
Anne native recorded her second straight double-double in ISU's
first-round 69-68 WNIT win over Central Michigan on Thursday. In the
victory, Sykes had a career-high 23 points and brought down 10
boards. During the 2012 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference
Tournament, Sykes had 17 points and 11 boards in a loss to Drake on
March 9. It isn't the first time this season Sykes has had
back-to-back double-doubles. She also did it Jan. 27 and Jan. 29 on
a road swing at Wichita State and Missouri State, respectively.
FIRST-ROUND RECAP
A late 3-pointer by junior Candace Sykes with 17 seconds left on
the clock propelled Illinois State to a 69-68 victory over Central
Michigan Thursday night in the first round of the WNIT. With just
7:36 left in the game, ISU took a 12-point lead, but Central
Michigan rallied back and went on a 19-4 run over the next six-plus
minutes to retake the lead at 67-64. A layup by Russell with 1:09
remaining cut the margin to one for the Redbirds, at 67-66. Sykes
hit her fifth 3-pointer of the game to give ISU the lead back at
69-67 with 17 seconds left on the clock. Bracey had a chance to tie
the game for CMU at the free-throw line after being fouled on a
layup attempt with eight seconds left, but could only make the first
of two shots as Russell rebounded the miss. Russell was then fouled
with three seconds left, which sent her to the line for the
one-and-one. Russell missed the first shot, and a last-second heave
by the Chippewas fell short to give the Redbirds the victory.
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BRINGING HOME THE HARDWARE
The Illinois State women's basketball team finished second in the
Missouri Valley Conference, after being selected to finish sixth in
the preseason poll. After the Redbirds' unexpected performance, the
Valley named junior transfer Jamie Russell Newcomer of the Year and
head coach Stephanie Glance Coach of the Year for the 2011-12
season. Glance is the third Redbird coach to earn the prestigious
Coach of the Year honor. Glance led ISU to a second-place finish in
conference play and led the Redbirds to their sixth straight season
of finishing in the top two of the Valley regular-season standings.
Through two seasons at the helm of the Redbirds, Glance has led ISU
to a record of 42-22. Russell, who transferred to Illinois State
from Wisconsin, is the first Redbird player to earn the Newcomer of
the Year honors, as the junior transfer played a crucial role for
ISU on both sides of the ball. Russell ranked second on the team
with 13.5 points per game. She had 17 double-digit scoring efforts
in ISU's last 20 games, including 10 straight double-digit
performances.
REDBIRDS UPSET IN MVC TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINALS
For the fifth time in the last six years, Illinois State was
upset in the State Farm MVC Tournament as a top two seed, failing to
reach the championship game. The second-seeded Redbirds were beaten
by seventh-seeded Drake 56-56 in the quarterfinals on March 9. Drake
shot 52 percent from the field in the game, while Illinois State
made 38 percent. ISU had an eight-point lead with just under 11
minutes to play, but Drake used a 14-4 run to regain the lead at
52-50 with just under two minutes to play.
The Redbirds tied the game off a jumper by Marley Hall, but a
shot by Kyndal Clark with eight seconds left put Drake up by two at
56-54. Illinois State had one last chance, but a Redbird turnover
didn't allow a shot to get off, as ISU fell to Drake 56-54.
REDBIRDS FINISH SECOND IN THE VALLEY
Illinois State finished the regular season in sole possession of
second place in the Valley standings. The Redbirds have finished in
the top two in the Valley regular season in each of the last six
years. ISU earned the No. 2 seed in the State Farm MVC Tournament,
marking the fourth time the Redbirds competed as No. 2. In 1997,
Illinois State lost a quarterfinal game against Wichita State 81-53.
In 2007, the Redbirds beat Bradley 75-60 before losing to Creighton
59-56 in the semifinals. During the 2011 tournament, ISU lost to
Indiana State 80-51.
FOUR REDBIRDS RECEIVE ALL-VALLEY HONORS
Four Redbirds received All-Valley honors, and three of the four
players received Valley recognition for the first time in their
careers.
Katie Broadway and Jamie Russell were named to the All-Valley
First Team. The last time ISU had two players on the first team was
during the 2009-10 season. Russell was also selected to the
All-Defensive Team. Candace Sykes earned accolades when she was
named to the All-Valley Honorable Mention Team and Chloe Nelson was
an All-Valley Honorable Mention selection on the All-Scholar Team.
Illinois State has had three players named all-Valley in each of the
last four years and has had a player on the Valley All-Defensive and
Scholar-Athlete teams in six consecutive seasons.
LEADING THE RECORD BOOKS
Katie Broadway was 1 of 5 beyond the arc in ISU's 72-50 victory
over Southern Illinois on March 3. With that 3, Broadway has made 86
3-pointers so far this season, which are the most 3s made by a
Redbird player in a single season. The previous record was held by
Jenny Schmidt, who made 77 3s during the 1997-98 season. The senior
guard is shooting 36.9 percent beyond the arc through 31 games.
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Redbird notes
[Text from file received from
Illinois State]
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