The Indiana State women's
basketball team hits the road for the first time in Missouri Valley Conference
play this weekend, beginning with a trip to Des Moines, Iowa, to face the Drake
Bulldogs on Friday, Jan. 11. Tipoff between the Sycamores and Bulldogs is set
for 8:05 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.
Indiana State enters the weekend at 9-4 on the season and 1-1 in league play
after splitting with Bradley and Northern Iowa inside Hulman Center last
weekend. Both games went down to the wire, as senior Taylor Whitley gave ISU a
55-54 win over Bradley by sinking a free throw with 7.5 seconds remaining on
Friday before UNI's Jen Keitel banked in a hook shot in the paint with 1.6
seconds left on Sunday to give the Panthers a 54-52 road victory.
The Sycamores will be looking to win their MVC road opener for the second
consecutive season, after ISU defeated UNI, 68-62, to open their road
conference schedule last season.
A Little History - Drake
Friday's game will be the 66th all-time meeting between Indiana State and
Drake, with the Bulldogs leading the series by a 47-18 margin. ISU and DU first
met back in the 1977-78 season, with the Bulldogs coming out on top, 92-89.
Drake holds a strong 27-3 edge over Indiana State when the game is played in
Des Moines, with ISU's road wins coming in 2006-07, 2005-06 and 1991-92. The
Bulldogs swept the Sycamores last season, winning 67-59 in Terre Haute on Jan.
22 and 60-43 in Des Moines on Feb. 17. Overall, Drake has won eight of the last
10 meetings with Indiana State including five straight at home.
Scouting The Bulldogs
Drake enters Friday's game with a 5-8 overall record and 0-2 in the MVC,
falling at Evansville last Friday (68-62) and Southern Illinois last Sunday
(77-70) to open league play. After starting the season at 1-4, the Bulldogs
have split their last eight games overall. Drake is led by first-year head
coach Jennie Baranczyk, who was named the sixth head coach in Bulldog history
last April. The Bulldogs are 3-2 at home this season, earning wins over UIC
(71-61, Nov. 18), Chicago State (67-39, Dec. 2) and Saint Louis (61-55, Dec. 21).
Sophomore Kyndal Clark leads the team at 13.3 points per game this season while
also adding 4.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. Junior Morgan Reid also
averages in double figures, checking in at 11.1 points and a team-leading 8.1
rebounds per game.
Game-by-Game - Drake
Below is a quick look at the last 10 games in the series between Indiana
State and Drake.
Feb. 17, 2012 at Drake - L, 43-60 Jan.
2, 2010 at Indiana State - L, 73-87
Jan. 22, 2012 at Indiana State - L, 59-67 March
7, 2009 at Drake - L, 38-63
Feb. 19, 2011 at Drake - L, 67-72 Jan.
1, 2009 at Indiana State - W, 50-38
Jan. 20, 2011 at Indiana State - W, 77-74 (OT) March
14, 2008 at St. Charles, Mo. - L, 59-65
March 4, 2010 at Drake - L, 58-77 Feb.
29, 2008 at Drake - L, 68-77
Last 10 On The Road
Below is a quick look at the last 10 neutral site and road games for
Indiana State.
Dec. 22, 2012 at Butler - L, 45-56 March
9, 2012 vs. Wichita State - L, 49-70
Dec. 16, 2012 at UT Martin - W, 73-71 (OT) March
3, 2012 at Evansville - W, 58-47
Nov. 29, 2012 at Saint Louis - W, 48-46 March
1, 2012 at Southern Illinois - W, 69-46
Nov. 20, 2012 at IUPUI - L, 67-71 Feb.
19, 2012 at Creighton - L, 48-63
Nov. 16, 2012 at Indiana - L, 48-60 Feb.
17, 2012 at Drake - L, 43-60
On The Road Under Head Coach Moren
ISU is 12-27 on the road in their three seasons under head coach Teri
Moren. In MVC play, the Sycamores are 5-13 in league road games since the start
of the 2010-11 season.
All About Defense
Indiana State leads the MVC and enters the week ranking 12th in the NCAA in
points allowed per game this season, as ISU's opponents have averaged 50.3
points per game. The Sycamores allowed 60.0 points per game in head coach Teri
Moren's first season (2010-11) and 58.6 points per game last season.
Under 61
Indiana State is 32-5 when holding their opposition under 61 points in
their three seasons with head coach Teri Moren, including an 8-3 mark this
season. During MVC games, ISU is 13-2 under head coach Moren when teams score
60 points or fewer. When teams go over 60 points against ISU in the last three
seasons, the Sycamores are 8-31.
Five Years Coming
Since sweeping Drake and Creighton to close out the 2006-07 season, Indiana
State has lost 10 consecutive road games to the Bulldogs and Bluejays. The road
swing to Des Moines, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska, has not been kind to the
Sycamores in the past, as Indiana State has just six combined roads wins
against Drake and Creighton.
Whitley Sinks Game-Winning Free Throw Against
Bradley
Senior Taylor Whitley completed a second-half comeback for Indiana State
last Friday night inside Hulman Center, sinking a free throw with 7.5 seconds
remaining in the game to put Indiana State in front of Bradley, 55-54, their
first lead of the second half. The Sycamores trailed by nine points with less
than six minutes remaining, but closed the game on a 15-5 run to earn the
victory.
Extending The Streak
Indiana State's 55-54 victory over Bradley in their MVC opener last Friday
night extended the Sycamores' home-court winning streak over the Braves to 16
straight games. Bradley's last win in Terre Haute came on Jan. 26, 1997.
Nine Out Of 13
Indiana State has started the 2012-13 season with wins in nine of their 13
matchups, their best start through 13 games under third-year head coach Teri
Moren. This season's 9-4 start is the best for Indiana State since opening the
2009-10 season at an equal 9-4.
Half-by-Half
The Sycamores have outscored their opponents by a margin of 373-289 (+84)
in the opening 20 minutes of their 13 games this season, while holding a slim
13-point edge (378-365) in the second half and overtime. This season, Indiana
State has led at the half in 10 of their 13 games.
Second-Chance Points
Indiana State is averaging 13.5 offensive rebounds per game, leading to a
138-84 (+54) edge in second-chance points this season. The Sycamores have
scored more or the same number of second-chance points as their opponents in 10
of their 13 games this season.
#PureHustle
Indiana State leads the MVC with 142 steals this season, also ranking 70th
in the nation by averaging 10.9 steals per game. ISU has posted double-digit
efforts in eight of their 13 games, including a season-high of 19 against
Northern Illinois on Dec. 4.
Assists And Steals
Senior Taylor Whitley ranks seventh in career assists and ninth in career
steals at Indiana State, moving into the Top 10 in both categories this season.
For her career, Whitley has posted 319 assists and needs 61 more assists to
pass Amy Walker (379 -- 1991-95) for sixth place. The Geneva, Ill., product,
has 201 steals in her career, needing 10 more to pass Judy Ellner (210 --
1978-82) for eighth 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.
Munn Ranks Third In The Valley In
Scoring
Junior Anna Munn leads the team and ranks third in the MVC in scoring,
averaging 15.5 points per game this season. The ISU junior scored a career high
25 points at UT Martin on Dec. 16, leading the Sycamores to a 73-71 overtime
victory. Munn has posted double-figure efforts in 12 of ISU's 13 games this season.
Among The Best
Junior Anna Munn leads the MVC by averaging 2.8 three-pointers per game,
entering the week ranking 27th on a national scale. The ISU junior has knocked
down 37 treys this season and has made at least four in five separate contests.
Sophomore Jump
After averaging 3.8 points and 2.9 rebounds per game as a freshman, Racheal
Mahan has more than tripled her production in her second season at Indiana
State. Mahan is second on the team by averaging 12.9 points per game, while
leading the way at 8.5 rebounds per game. The sophomore from Mansfield, Ohio,
posted her fifth double-double of the season last Sunday against Northern Iowa,
going for 11 points and 12 rebounds. Mahan ranks fourth in the league in
rebounds per game, while leading the conference with 55 offensive boards.
Recent Overtime Success
With their 73-71 overtime victory on the road at UT Martin on Dec. 16,
Indiana State 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 win over #17 Vanderbilt inside Hulman Center on
Nov. 12, 2007. Dating back to the 1971-72 season, Indiana State is 21-23 in
overtime games.
On A Good Pace
Senior Taylor Whitley enters Sunday's game with 902 career points, needing
98 more points in her senior season to become the 26th member of the 1,000
Point Club at Indiana State. The Geneva, Ill., product already ranks seventh in
career assists and ninth in career steals at ISU.
Sharp Shooter
Junior Anna Munn has knocked down 130 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 last
Sunday, 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.
Off The Bench
Freshman Marina Laramie has appeared in all 13 games off the bench for the
Sycamores, averaging 5.8 points (fourth on the team) and 2.8 rebounds (fifth on
the team) per game. The newcomer from O'Fallon, Mo., totaled a season high 15
points against Chicago State on Dec. 18, going 7-for-10 from the field in 24
minutes on the court.
Crashing The Boards
Sophomore Jessica Valley ranks second on the team with 82 total rebounds
and an average of 6.3 boards per game this season, going for at least six
rebounds in seven games. Over ISU's last five games, the sophomore from
Lafayette, Ind., has grabbed 38 rebounds, going for double figures at UT Martin
(10) and at home against Bradley (11).
A Little Bit Of Everything
Freshman Kasey Johnson has done whatever the team has needed her to do this
season, averaging 4.2 points, 2.4 assists, 1.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game
in her rookie campaign. The Plainfield, Ind., product also ranks second on the
team with seven blocked shots, including a season high of three at UT Martin.
Missouri Valley Rankings - Individual
Several members of the Indiana State women's basketball team rank in the
Top 10 around the Missouri Valley Conference. Below is a quick look at the
individual rankings for the Sycamores.
Taylor
Whitley Steals Per Game 1st 3.1 SPG
Racheal Mahan Offensive
Rebounds Per Game 1st 4.2 ORPG
Anna Munn Minutes
Played Per Game 1st 38.2 MPG
Anna Munn 3PT Per Game 1st 2.8 3PT PG
Anna Munn Points Per
Game 3rd 15.5 PPG
Racheal Mahan Field Goal
Percentage 3rd 50.7% (68-for-134)
Taylor Whitley Minutes
Played Per Game T-3rd 34.2 MPG
Racheal Mahan Total Rebounds
Per Game 4th 8.5 RPG
Taylor Whitley Assist-to-Turnover
Ratio 5th 1.2 Ratio (42-to-34)
Racheal Mahan Blocked Shots
Per Game T-5th 1.0 BPG
Anna Munn Free Throw
Percentage 6th 82.9% (34-for-41)
Natasha Zurek Steals Per
Game T-8th 1.6 SPG
Taylor Whitley Assists Per
Game T-9th 3.2 APG
Jessica Valley Steals Per
Game T-10th 1.5 SPG
On To The Next One...
Indiana State travels to Omaha, Neb., for a matchup with the Creighton
Bluejays on Sunday, Jan. 13. Tipoff from D.J. Sokol Arena is set for 3:05 p.m.
(ET), 2:05 p.m. locally in Omaha.
