The Indiana State women's
basketball team begins their final road swing of the regular season this week
as the Sycamores travel to Cedar Falls, Iowa, for a matchup with Northern Iowa
on Thursday, March 7. Tipoff between the Sycamores and Panthers is set for 8:00
p.m. (ET).
The game can be heard live on WIBQ 98.5 FM and on the Nelligan Sports Marketing
Radio Network as Brent Holl covers all the action on the court. Fans can also
watch the game live online at GoSycamores.com through SycamoreVision with a
premium subscription.
Indiana State enters the game at 17-10 on the season and 9-7 in MVC, sitting in
a tie for fourth place in the league standings. Indiana State is an even 6-6 on
the road this season, including wins in two straight games and three of their
last four road matchups overall. Northern Iowa (14-14, 9-7 MVC) is also tied
for fourth place in the MVC standings entering the contest.
The Sycamores picked up a 68-62 victory against the Panthers last season and
will look for their first back-to-back road wins inside the McLeod Center since
2004-05 and 2005-06.
A Little History -- Northern Iowa
Thursday's game will be the 62nd all-time meeting between Indiana State and
Northern Iowa, with the Sycamores leading the series by a 39-22 margin. ISU and
UNI first met during the 1983-84 season with the Sycamores sweeping a pair of
games. The Panthers won 54-52 in Terre Haute earlier this season on Jan. 6, as
UNI's Jen Keitel banked in a hook shot as time expired to earn Northern Iowa a
road victory. Indiana State holds a 15-14 all-time record in Cedar Falls,
including a 68-62 victory on Jan. 12, 2012. Under head coach Teri Moren,
Indiana State is 2-3 against Northern Iowa and 1-1 on the road.
Scouting The Panthers
Northern Iowa enters Thursday's game at an even 14-14 on the season,
sitting in a tie with Indiana State for fourth in the MVC standings with a 9-7
record within the league. The Panthers are 6-6 at home this season, including a
4-3 mark within the MVC. Redshirt senior Jacqui Kalin leads the MVC by
averaging 19.3 points per game this season, improving her average to 20.5 PPG
in league games. The Panthers rank second in the MVC and 11th in the NCAA in
three-pointers this season, connecting on 226 treys for an average of 8.1 per
game. Junior Jess McDowell paced the Panthers in their road wins at Evansville
and Southern Illinois last week, connecting on seven three-pointers for 21
points against the Purple Aces and six treys with 22 points against the
Salukis.
Game-by-Game -- Northern Iowa
Below is a quick look at the last 10 games between Indiana State and
Northern Iowa.
Jan. 6, 2013 at Indiana State -- L, 52-54 Feb.
26, 2010 at Indiana State -- W, 70-62
Feb. 12, 2012 at Indiana State -- W, 71-60 Jan.
30, 2010 at Northern Iowa -- L, 68-85
Jan. 12, 2012 at Northern Iowa -- W, 68-62 Feb.
27, 2009 at Indiana State -- W, 56-51 (OT)
March 3, 2011 at Northern Iowa -- L, 46-73 Jan.
30, 2009 at Northern Iowa -- W, 66-59
Dec. 30, 2010 at Indiana State -- L, 46-71 Feb.
9, 2008 at Northern Iowa -- L, 65-68
Last 10 On The Road
Below is a quick look at the last 10 neutral site and road games for
Indiana State.
Feb. 16, 2013 at Southern Illinois -- W, 77-64 Jan.
13, 2013 at Creighton -- L, 50-69
Feb. 14, 2013 at Evansville -- W, 55-48 Jan.
11, 2013 at Drake -- W, 67-49
Feb. 3, 2013 at Wichita State -- L, 46-53 Dec.
22, 2012 at Butler -- L, 45-56
Feb. 1, 2013 at Missouri State -- W, 71-67 Dec.
16, 2012 at UT Martin -- W, 73-71 (OT)
Jan. 25, 2013 at Illinois State -- L, 65-66 Nov.
29, 2012 at Saint Louis -- W, 48-46
On The Road Under Head Coach Moren
Indiana State is 16-30 (.349) on the road in their three seasons under head
coach Teri Moren. In MVC play, the Sycamores are 9-16 in league road games
since the start of the 2010-11 season. This season, the Sycamores are an even
6-6 away from Hulman Center.
Tournament Seeding On The Line
The winner of Thursday's matchup in Cedar Falls between Indiana State and
Northern Iowa secures a spot in the No. 4 / No. 5 game in next week's Missouri
Valley Conference Tournament. ISU and UNI both enter the game at 9-7 in the
MVC.
All About Defense: Part I
Indiana State is well on its way to setting a school record for the fewest
points allowed per game for a single season. Below is a quick look at the five
best defensive seasons for Indiana State since the inception of 20-minute
halves during the 1975-76 season.
Season Opp. PPG Total Points Games Team Record Opp. Held Under 50 Points
2012-13 54.1 1,460 27 17-10 Ten
1975-76 60.2 1,685 28 19-9 Seven
2008-09 61.9 1,856 30 14-16 Four
1997-98 62.2 1,742 28 17-11 Five
2009-10 62.7 1,943 31 17-14 Four
All About Defense: Part II
Indiana State ranks second in the MVC and enters the week ranking 35th in
the NCAA in points allowed per game this season, as ISU's opponents have
averaged 54.1 points per game. The Sycamores allowed 64.5 points per game in
head coach Teri Moren's first season (2010-11) and 63.4 points per game last
season.
Under 61
Indiana State is 37-7 (.841) when holding their opposition under 61 points
in their three seasons with head coach Teri Moren, including a 13-5 mark this
season. During MVC games, ISU is 18-4 under head coach Moren when teams score
60 points or fewer. When teams go over 61 points against ISU in the last three
seasons, the Sycamores are 11-35.
Taylor Whitley Joins The 1,000 Point
Club
Senior Taylor Whitley knocked down a jump shot in the first minute of play
in second half against Drake on Feb. 10, becoming the 26th member of the 1,000
Point Club at Indiana State. The Geneva, Ill., product ranks seventh in career
assists and seventh in career steals at ISU. Below is a quick look at the 1,000
Point Club at Indiana State.
1. Amy Hile (1983-87) --
1,944 14.
Shannon Thomas (2008-12) -- 1,253
2. Kourtney Mennen (1999-03) -- 1,843 15.
Hazel Olden (1990-94) -- 1,244
3. Melanie Boeglin (2002-06) -- 1,800 16.
Laura Rudolphi (2004-08) -- 1,208
4. Julie Lein (1987-91) -- 1,585 17.
Angie Eichorst (1988-92) -- 1,174
5. Barbara Graves (1979-83) -- 1,498 18.
Lori Castetter (1985-89) -- 1,166
6. Shelly Newell (1976-80) -- 1,435 19.
Brittany Schoen (2008-12) -- 1,118
7. Amy Vanderkolk (1985-89) -- 1,434 20.
Trish Porter (1972-76) -- 1,112
8. Kelsey Luna (2006-10) -- 1,429 21.
Tammy Hammel (1983-87) -- 1,080
9. Georgia Bottoms (1993-98) -- 1,383 22.
Taylor Whitley (2009-present) -- 1,062
10. Judy Ellner (1978-82) -- 1,367 23.
Deja Mattox (2008-12) -- 1,051
11. Amy Walker (1991-95) -- 1,333 24.
Lisa Verhoff (2002-06) -- 1,041
12. Livia Hester (1992-96) -- 1,332 25.
Rachel Maenpaa (2003-07) -- 1,029
13. Amy Amstutz (1996-99) -- 1,274 26.
Stephanie Lisch (2003-06) -- 1,007
Top Four
Indiana State enters Thursday's game in a tie for fourth place in the
Missouri Valley Conference standings, checking in at 9-7 in league play. The
last time that the Sycamores finished in the top four of the MVC standings was
during the 2006-07 season when Indiana State finished third with a 19-11
overall record and 12-6 with in the conference.
Sycamores Secure First Winning Season
Since 2009-10
With their 77-64 victory at SIU on Feb. 16, Indiana State secured their
first winning season under head coach Teri Moren and the program's first since
the 2009-10 season. The Sycamores finished an even 16-16 in Moren's debut
season in 2010-11 before going 15-16 in 2011-12.
Comeback Kids
Indiana State has rallied from a double-digit deficit in each of their last
three MVC wins, coming back from 13 points down at Evansville (55-48, Feb. 14),
15 points down at Southern Illinois (77-64, Feb. 16) and 11 points down against
Missouri State (71-63, March 1).
Freshman Marina Laramie Scores 27 Points
Against Missouri State
Freshman Marina Laramie led ISU in their 71-63 comeback win over Missouri
State last Friday, pouring in 21 points in the second half for a career-high 27
points for the game. A newcomer from O'Fallon, Mo., Laramie's 27 points are the
most for an Indiana State freshman since Bianca Jarrett posted 32 points on the
road at Southern Illinois on Feb. 21, 2009.
Winning On The Glass
The Sycamores are 14-1 this season when out-rebounding their opponents
compared to 3-9 when rebounds are equal or the opposition has more. For the
season, Indiana State has posted a 37.3-33.7 (+3.6) average edge on the glass
while allowing the fewest rebounds per game in the conference (33.7).
Munn Ranks Second In The Valley In
Scoring
Junior Anna Munn leads the team and ranks in a tie for second in the MVC in
scoring, averaging an even 15.0 points per game this season. The ISU junior
tied her career high with 27 points at Southern Illinois on Feb. 16, also going
for 27 points on the road at Missouri State on Feb. 1. Munn has posted at least
20 points in four games this season, with three coming on the road. If Munn
keeps up her 15.0 points per game pace, her average would be the best for a
Sycamore since Laura Rudolphi averaged 15.9 points per game during the 2007-08
season and make her the first Sycamore to finish either first or second in the
league standings since Kourtney Mennen led the MVC with an 18.6 PPG average
during the 2002-03 season.
Mahan Nears Offensive Rebounds Record
Sophomore Racheal Mahan has pulled down an MVC-leading 90 offensive
rebounds this season, good for an average of 3.3 offensive rebounds per game.
Mahan enters Thursday's game ranking third in ISU's single-season offensive
rebound standings, behind Georgia Bottoms (92 -- 1994-95) and record holder
Kristin Stewart (94 -- 2001-02).
Half-by-Half
The Sycamores have outscored their opponents by a margin of 770-668 (+102)
in the opening 20 minutes of their 27 games this season, while holding a
41-point edge (833-792) in the second half and overtime. This season, Indiana
State has led at the half in 16 of their 27 games and is 13-3 when leading at
the break.
Field Goal Percentage Defense
Indiana State leads in the conference in field goal percentage defense,
allowing their opponents to shoot 507-for-1358 (37.3%) from the field this
season. The Sycamores have held an opponent under 40% shooting in 14 games this
season, going 10-4 in those contests.
ISU Rallies For Road Victories At
Evansville and Southern Illinois
Indiana State trailed at the half at both Evansville (26-15) and Southern
Illinois (42-36) in mid-February before posting a pair of second-half runs to
earn victories, the first time since Jan. 3, 2009, against Creighton and Jan.
10, 2009, against Illinois State that ISU trailed at the break in back-to-back
games before earning wins. At UE, ISU trailed by 13 points with less than 15
minutes to play before totaling a 26-0 scoring run to turn a 32-19 deficit into
a 45-32 lead with four and a half minutes to play. ISU's comeback from 13
points was their largest since also rallying from 13 points down in their 48-42
victory at Southern Illinois on Jan. 29, 2011. At SIU, Indiana State trailed by
15 points, at 21-6, early in the contest but began the second half on a 20-4
run to earn their 10th straight victory over the Salukis. ISU's comeback from
15 points was their largest in program history.
Assists And Steals
Senior Taylor Whitley ranks seventh in career assists and seventh in career
steals at ISU, moving into the Top 10 in both categories this season. For her
career, Whitley has posted 362 assists and needs 18 more assists to pass Amy
Walker (379 -- 1991-95) for sixth place. The Geneva, Ill., product, has 227
career steals, one shy of Amy Hile (228 -- 1983-87) in sixth place. Whitley
joins Melanie Boeglin (2002-06), Hazel Olden (1990-94) and Shavonda Averette
(1987-91) as one of just four Sycamores to rank in the Top 10 in school history
in both categories.
Laramie Moves Into The Starting Lineup
Freshman Marina Laramie was inserted into the starting lineup over each of
the past 10 games and has responded by averaging 11.7 points and 7.1 rebounds
per game. In her 17 games coming off the bench, the newcomer from O'Fallon,
Mo., averaged 6.1 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. Laramie has posted a
career-high 27 points against Missouri State last Friday and a 10-point,
14-rebound double-double against Creighton on Feb. 8.
Better At The Line
Sophomore Racheal Mahan has improved at the free-throw line during MVC
action, shooting 51-for-74 (68.9%) from the charity stripe during league games.
Mahan finished nonconference play at 50%, going 25-for-50 at the line. The
sophomore forward is also better shooting at the line inside Hulman Center
(36-for-55, 65.5%) than on the road (40-for-69, 58.0%).
49 Combined
Junior Anna Munn (27 points) and sophomore Racheal Mahan (22 points)
combined for 49 points in Indiana State's road victory at Southern Illinois on
Feb. 16, the most points from a pair of Sycamores since Kelsey Luna (33 points)
and Shannon Thomas (19 points) combined for 52 points in an 80-72 road victory
at USC Upstate on Nov. 21, 2009.
Sophomore Jump
After averaging 3.8 points and 2.9 rebounds per game as a freshman, Racheal
Mahan has tripled her production in her second season at ISU. Mahan is second
on the team by averaging 13.3 points per game, while leading the way at 8.0
rebounds per game. The sophomore from Mansfield, Ohio, ranks in a tie for
second in the MVC lead with eight double-doubles.
Second-Chance Points
Indiana State is averaging 13.0 offensive rebounds per game, leading to a
281-190 (+91) edge in second-chance points this season. The Sycamores have
scored more or the same number of second-chance points as their opponents in 20
of their 27 games this season.
Sharp Shooter
Junior Anna Munn has knocked down 158 three-pointers in her time at Indiana
State, an amount that places the junior guard in eighth place in ISU's career
rankings. The Indianapolis native made two treys against Northern Iowa on Jan.
6, passing Krissy Holden (129 -- 1993-97) and Deja Mattox (129 -- 2008-12) in
the career rankings. Next up for Munn is April Kirby (166 -- 1998-2002) in
seventh place in ISU history.
Rare Wins
Indiana State has earned road wins at Drake (67-49, Jan. 11) and at
Missouri State (71-67, Feb. 1) this season, places that the Sycamores have
struggled in the past. The road victory over the Bulldogs was just their fourth
in program history and first since 2006-07, while ISU's win in Springfield was
their first since 2007-08 and the fifth in school history. ISU picked up a
58-41 home victory over Creighton on Feb. 8, snapping an eight-game losing
streaks to the Bluejays.
Down To The Wire
In Indiana State's three seasons under head coach Teri Moren, the Sycamores
are 8-10 in games decided by five points or less, including a 4-4 mark this
season. ISU's close wins this season are on the road over Saint Louis (48-46),
UT Martin (73-71) and Missouri State (71-67) and at home over Bradley (55-54).
Close Losses In MVC Play
Of ISU's seven losses in MVC play this season, three have come on the final
possession of the game. In ISU's 54-52 loss to Northern Iowa, UNI's Jen Keitel
grabbed a rebound and banked in a hook shot with 1.6 seconds remaining to give
the Panthers the victory. Indiana State had possession of the basketball in the
closing seconds of both their losses to Evansville (55-54) and Illinois State
(66-65), but could not find a go-ahead shot in either contest.
Extending The Streaks
With their wins over Bradley (55-54) and Southern Illinois (72-57) earlier
this season, ISU extended lengthy home-court winning streaks over both the
Braves and Salukis. ISU holds a 16-game streak over BU, with the Braves' last
win in Terre Haute coming on Jan. 26, 1997, while the Sycamores hold a 13-game
streak over the Salukis since SIU's win on Dec. 29, 1999.
Recent Overtime Success
With their 73-71 overtime victory on the road at UT Martin, ISU improved to
2-0 past regulation under third-year head coach Teri Moren. Dating back to the
2004-05 season, the Sycamores are 8-2 in overtime contests, including a 77-72
home win over #17 Vanderbilt on Nov. 12, 2007. Dating back to the 1971-72
season, Indiana State is 21-23 in overtime games.
On To The Next One...
The Sycamores close out the regular season with a trip to Peoria, Ill., for
matchup with the Bradley Braves. Tipoff is set for 3:00 p.m. (ET), 2:00 p.m.
locally in Illinois.
