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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State women's basketball returns to Hulman Center on Friday night when it welcomes Loyola in Missouri Valley Conference play. The action gets underway at 7:05 p.m. ET and will be live on The Valley on ESPN3.

The Sycamores will also host their annual “We Back Pat” to raise awareness for Alzheimer's disease and early onset dementia. The ISU coaching staff will wear purple to raise awareness for the disease and fans are encouraged to do the same. 

INDIANA STATE (6-10, 2-3 MVC) VS. LOYOLA (8-8, 4-1 MVC)
Dates	January 22, 2016
Location	Terre Haute, Ind. | Hulman Center | 10,200
Game Time	7:05 p.m. ET
ESPN3	The Valley on ESPN3
Live Stats	StatBroadcast
Radio	1230 AM WIBQ
Social Media	|  |

Indiana State Sycamores (6-10, 2-3 MVC)

Head Coach: Joey Wells (Fresno Pacific '96)

Record at ISU: 23-23 (Second Season)

Career Record: Same

Indiana State Projected Starters (based on last game starters)

Loyola Ramblers (8-8, 4-1 MVC)

Head Coach: Sheryl Swoopes (Texas Tech '94)

Record at Loyola: 25-54 (3^rd Season)

Career Record: Same

Loyola Projected Starters (based on last game starters)

SERIES HISTORY

All Time Series: Indiana State leads 6-4

Last Meeting: February 8, 2015

Result: L, 50-61

Under Coach Wells: 1-1

Last Five Meetings

2/8/15         L, 50-61         Chicago, Ill.

1/11/15       W, 64-37        Terre Haute, Ind.

3/14/14       W, 62-51        St. Charles, Mo.

2/28/14       W, 66-45        Terre Haute, Ind.

2/2/14          L, 71-58        Chicago, Ill.

PROMOTIONS

·    We Back Pat: Indiana State will host its annual “We Back Pat” night at Hulman Center to help raise awareness for Alzheimer's and early onset dementia. Legendary women's college basketball coach Pat Summitt (who the event is named after) has battled the disease since 2011. Fans are encouraged to wear purple to the game and a silent auction will be held on a Summitt autographed ball. Donations will also be accepted and donated to the Pat Summitt Foundation.

SCOUTING THE RAMBLERS

Picked to finish eighth in the annual preseason poll, Loyola has surprised many early on in league play as it comes in with a 4-1 MVC record. They suffered their first loss at the hands of Missouri State (73-62) on Sunday and hold victories over SIU, Evansville and Wichita State. Loyola is led by redshirt senior forward Taylor Johnson (15.3 ppg., 7.5 rpg.) and senior guard Taylor Johnson (14.4 ppg., 4.0 apg.). Junior forward Nikea Wheeler adds 9.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game as the Ramblers shoot 42.6 percent from the field per ballgame and average 64.7 points per game.

PROTECT THE HOME TURF

Since Loyola entered the Missouri Valley Conference in 2013-14, neither team has won on the road in Valley action. Each team holds a 2-0 record on its home court and ISU holds its only win in Chicago over the Ramblers in non-conference action in 2005. 

BLOCK THAT SHOT

Redshirt junior forward Kelsey Dirks tied her career-high of four blocks on Sunday at Northern Iowa and moved her into a tie for 10th place in a single season. Her 30 blocks tie Kiwana Battle for the 10th spot in a single season as she's on pace to block over 50 shots this season.

WEBB GETS FIRST CAREER START

Freshman guard Tierra Webb got the nod for the first time in her young career with the Sycamores' line up plagued with injuries. The Richton Park, Ill. native is the only ISU freshman to have played in all 16 games this season.

RHAGEN OFF THE BENCH

Junior forward Rhagen Smith came off the bench Friday night to lead ISU with 12 points on a perfect 5-for-5 night from the floor. The Sullivan, Ind. native scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half.

CONSISTENT CEAZER

Redshirt senior Cierra Ceazer continues to assert her place as the Sycamores' leading scorer after double-digit performances at Drake and Northern Iowa last weekend. She's tallied 13 of 16 games this season in double figures including a career-high 26 versus Butler. She's averaging 13.3 points per game this season including 13.4 in MVC games where she shoots 44.1 percent from the floor and 61.5 percent from 3-point range. 

TOSS IT TO ME, WEBB

Freshman guard Tierra Webb posted a new career-high four assists in Friday night's loss to Drake. Her team-high four helped ISU tally 11 on the night while Webb has now collected 13 on the season.

UP NEXT

The Sycamores return to action on Sunday as part of a doubleheader with the ISU men's basketball team as it hosts Bradley. A special 12:05 p.m. tip is scheduled and 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.