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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State women's basketball takes its game on the road for the first time in the 2016 calendar year when it travels to Drake on Friday night. The game at Knapp Center is set for 8 p.m. ET and will be live on The Valley on ESPN3. 

INDIANA STATE (6-8, 2-1 MVC) AT DRAKE (10-5, 3-1 MVC)
Dates	January 15, 2016
Location	Des Moines, Iowa | Knapp Center | 7,125
Game Time	8 p.m. ET
TV	The Valley on ESPN3
Live Stats	StatBroadcast
Radio	1230 AM WIBQ
Social Media	|  |

Indiana State Sycamores (6-8, 2-1 MVC)

Head Coach: Joey Wells (Fresno Pacific '96)

Record at ISU: 23-21 (Second Season)

Career Record: Same

Indiana State Projected Starters (based on last game starters)

Drake Bulldogs (10-5, 3-1 MVC)

Head Coach: Jennie Baranczyk (Iowa '04)

Record at Drake: 61-51 (Fourth Season)

Career Record: Same

Drake Projected Starters (based on last game starters)

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS

Drake was selected as the preseason MVC runner-up and didn't disappoint in non-conference play as it posted wins over Iowa State and Wisconsin and are coming off of a split weekend loss to Missouri State and win over Wichita State. They are led by junior forward Lizzy Wendell who averages a league-best 21.0 points on a 45 percent shooting clip while adding 4.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Three Bulldogs score in double figures as they maintain the MVC's highest scoring offense, scoring 80.7 points per game. Sophomore guard Maddy Dean (13.3 ppg., 8.0 rpg.) and freshman forward and MVC Newcomer of the Week Sara Rhine (12.0 ppg., 6.5 rpg.) each add double figures and are the No. 1-2 leading rebounders. As a team, Drake shoots 45.1 percent from the floor on an average night and collects 42.3 rebounds per game.

FIRST ROAD TRIP OF 2016

Indiana State wraps up a six week homestand when it hits the road for Iowa this weekend for Valley play. Indiana State has not traveled to a game since it faced Tulsa on December 6, playing its last five games inside the friendly confines of Hulman Center.

THREE IN A ROW

Indiana State extended its win streak in the series with Illinois State to three in Sunday afternoon's 63-56 win. The Sycamores nearly gave up a 17 point lead in the ballgame, as it squeaked out the victory in the final two minutes of play in its only Valley action last week.

THAT'S A NEW HIGH

Redshirt junior forward Joyea Marshall tied the 10th best single game performance in ISU history when she collected 17 rebounds in Sunday's win over Illinois State. Her mark is the also tied for the sixth best performance in Hulman Center history. It's also the most in a single game since the 2013-14 season when Racheal Mahan grabbed 17 against Loyola.

TWO IN A ROW FOR MACKOWIAK

Freshman guard Jennifer Mackowiak came off the bench for another double-digit performance as she scored eight of her 10 points in the second half in the win over Illinois State on Sunday. The Cicero, Ill. native went 4-for-6 from the floor and posted back-to-back games in double figures as she tied a career-high 18 last week against Missouri State.

BLOCK THAT SHOT

Redshirt junior forward Kelsey Dirks has been a shot blocking machine for the Sycamores this season. She's blocked 24 shots, averaging a fifth-best 1.8 in game amongst the MVC. She's on pace to block 51 shots this season, which would be the most in a season in four seasons. She needs just six more to tie Kiwana Battle for 10th in a single season.

I THINK WE'VE GOT OUR FIVE

Indiana State has finally achieved some consistency in its starting lineup as its used the same five for the last six of seven games. Three of those five, Alexis Newbolt, Cierra Ceazer and Kelsey Dirks, all boast starts in all 12 games this season.

ASHLEY'S ACCURACY

Redshirt sophomore Ashley Taia has been outstanding for the Sycamores from the field in her first season in the blue and white. The Brisbane, Australia native ranks fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference with her team-leading 43.6 field goal percentage and is sixth in the MVC with a 35.6 percent clip from 3-point range.

STIFLING DEFENSE CONTINUES

Second year head coach Joey Wells' calling card has always been a strong defensive game. Indiana State is beginning to pick it up on the defensive end as it leads the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring defense, allowing just 59.0 points per game which leads the conference. This season, ISU has held seven opponents to 60 points or less and force its opponent to commit 17.1 turnovers per game and hold a positive turnover margin with +1.29 on the season.  

UP NEXT

Indiana State heads to Northern Iowa on Sunday for a 3 p.m. ET contest inside McLeod Center. The game will be live on The Valley on ESPN3.

For the latest information on the Sycamore Women's Basketball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.