Battle for First Place and Tribute to a Former Coach Highlight ISU Women's Basketball Weekend

[January 31, 2008]  NORMAL -- The No. 24/ARV Illinois State women's basketball team (17-1, 7-0 MVC) has a weekend full of big games and special ceremonies. The Redbirds host Drake (13-5, 6-1 MVC) in a battle of the top two teams in the Missouri Valley Conference on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. ISU remains at home to host Creighton (11-7, 4-3 MVC) on Saturday at 4:05 p.m. and will honor former letter winners and a legendary coach.

The Redbirds-Bulldogs series

Drake leads the all-time series with Illinois State 30-23. In a series that began in 1981, Illinois State won 13 of the first 20 meetings. Since then, Drake is 23-10 against ISU, including a 14-game winning streak from 1997-2004. The Redbirds have won five of the last seven meetings, including a series sweep last season. ISU is 14-12 against Drake at home, including a 10-9 mark in Redbird Arena. Head coach Robin Pingeton is 5-3 all-time against Drake.

The Redbirds-Bluejays series

Creighton leads the all-time series with Illinois State 22-12. The two first met in 1982 and did not play again until 1993, both Redbird wins. Creighton posted a 21-6 record against ISU after that, including a string of eight straight wins. The Redbirds have swept the season series in each of the last two years. Creighton beat ISU in the semifinals of the State Farm MVC Tournament last season.

Redbirds break into Associated Press top 25

After receiving votes in the Associated Press poll for 10 consecutive weeks, Illinois State broke into the top 25 on Monday. The Redbirds are 24th in the nation with 84 votes in the poll, five votes ahead of 25th-ranked Texas and 78 votes behind 23rd-ranked DePaul. It is the eighth week all-time that ISU has been ranked in the AP poll and the first time since Dec. 12, 1988.

A memorable matchup

The clash between Illinois State and Drake marks just the seventh time in the history of the Valley that two teams meet with at least six wins each through the first seven conference games. In the previous six occurrences, the home team and road team have each won three times. Illinois State beat Southern Illinois 79-59 when both teams were 6-1, on Jan. 21, 1988. In the first-ever meeting between 7-0 teams, Drake lost to Southern Illinois on Jan. 31, 1986.

Hutchison to be honored at Creighton game

Former Illinois State head women's basketball coach and women's basketball innovator Jill Hutchison will be honored during the Redbirds' game against Creighton. Hutchison, who served as Redbird head coach for 28 years, will be honored with a banner from the Redbird Arena rafters before the game and a video presentation at halftime. Saturday is also Letterwinner Day for the women's basketball program, as ISU welcomes back its former players, many of whom played for Hutchison.

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