Illinois State-Evansville Game Changed to 2:05 p.m.

[March 04, 2008]  NORMAL -- The game time for the Missouri Valley Conference women's basketball game between Illinois State and Evansville on Saturday has been changed. The regular-season finale for both teams will now start at 2:05 p.m. at Redbird Arena, as opposed to the original 4:05 p.m. tipoff time. Illinois State is currently 22-5 on the season, 12-4 in the Valley.

Illinois State is in second place in the Valley, one game behind Evansville (19-8, 13-3 MVC). If the Redbirds win their final two games of the season, they will clinch at least a share of the regular-season championship with Evansville and the top seed in the State Farm MVC Women's Basketball Tournament by virtue of beating the Aces twice in the regular season. If the Redbirds win their final two games and Evansville loses both, ISU will win the title outright. ISU will have to beat Evansville for a chance at the title and could afford a loss to Southern Illinois on March 6, if Evansville loses to Indiana State. If the Redbirds lose to the Salukis and the Aces beat the Sycamores on Thursday, Evansville will win the regular-season crown outright.

Creighton and Drake are currently tied for third place in the conference with identical 11-5 Valley records. The Bluejays and Bulldogs would need to win both of their remaining games and have ISU lose once and Evansville lose twice to take first place in the conference. Drake owns the tiebreaker over Creighton after sweeping the season series.

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