The Indiana State women's
basketball team opens up the Sycamore basketball doubleheader on Saturday,
Jan. 19, hosting the Evansville Purple Aces inside Hulman Center. Tipoff
between the Sycamores and Purple Aces is sponsored by the Hamilton Center and is
set for 2:05 p.m.
The game can be heard live on WIBQ 98.5 FM and on the Nelligan Sports Marketing
Radio Network as Brent Holl and Jimmy Kendall cover 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 11-5 on the season and at 3-2 in league play
after earning their 13th consecutive home win over Southern Illinois on
Thursday. The Sycamores stand in a tie for fourth place in the conference,
one-half game behind Evansville (5-10, 3-1 MVC).
The Sycamores check in at 8-1 on their home court this season, holding their
opponents to just 45.2 points per game inside Hulman Center.
A Little History - Evansville
Saturday's game will be the 45th all-time meeting between Indiana State and
Evansville, with the Sycamores leading the series by a 30-14 margin. ISU and UE
first met during the 1974-75 season, with the Sycamores coming out on top,
75-41. Indiana State has won six straight games overall in the series dating
back to the start of the 2009-10 season, while ISU's home-court winning streak
over UE sits at five games. Over Indiana State's six-game winning streak
against Evansville, the Sycamores have averaged a winning margin of 16.2 points
per game.
Scouting The Purple Aces
Evansville enters Saturday's game at 5-10 on the season, sitting in third
place in the MVC standings with a 3-1 record within the league. The Purples
Aces went 2-1 on their three-game homestand to open MVC play before topping
Illinois State on the road on Thursday (71-57). The addition of sophomore
Mallory Ladd to the UE lineup has turned their season around, as the Purple
Aces started the season at 2-7 before Ladd joined the lineup on Dec. 20. The Purple
Aces are 3-3 with Ladd in the starting lineup, as the Valparaiso transfer has
posted six consecutive double-doubles while averaging 16.0 points and 10.8
rebounds per game. Evansville ranks second in the conference and 22nd in the
NCAA in free-throw percentage, knocking down 75.6% (204-for-270) of the shots
at the charity stripe. Ladd has made 40 consecutive free throws on the season,
going 40-for-41 (97.6%) at the stripe.
Game-by-Game - Evansville
Below is a quick look at the last 10 games in the series between Indiana
State and Evansville.
March 3, 2012 at Evansville - W, 58-47 Jan.
21, 2010 at Indiana State - W, 55-31
Dec. 30, 2011 at Indiana State - W, 73-54 Feb.
19, 2009 at Evansville - L, 58-65
Feb. 27, 2011 at Indiana State - W, 64-50 Jan.
24, 2009 at Indiana State - W, 66-59
Jan. 27, 2011 at Evansville - W, 75-67 March
6, 2008 at Indiana State - W, 66-61
Feb. 20, 2010 at Evansville - W, 71-50 Jan.
5, 2008 at Evansville - L, 59-84
Last 10 Inside Hulman Center
Below is a quick look at the last 10 games for Indiana State inside Hulman
Center.
Jan. 17, 2013 vs. Southern Illinois - W, 72-57 Dec.
4, 2012 vs. Northern Illinois - W, 58-52
Jan. 6, 2013 vs. Northern Iowa - L, 52-54 Nov.
25, 2012 vs. Belmont - W, 48-34
Jan. 4, 2013 vs. Bradley - W, 55-54 Nov.
12, 2012 vs. Marshall - W, 55-49
Dec. 18, 2012 vs. Chicago State - W, 69-35 Nov.
9, 2012 vs. Eastern Illinois - W, 69-39
Dec. 7, 2012 vs. UIC - W, 64-33 Feb.
26, 2012 vs. Wichita State - W, 63-51
At Home Under Head Coach Moren
Indiana State is 29-9 inside Hulman Center in their three seasons under
head coach Teri Moren. In MVC action, the Sycamores are 14-7 in home games
since the start of 2010-11, posting a 6-3 record in each of the previous two
seasons.
Dominant At Home
Thanks to the home-court advantage of Hulman Center, the Sycamores have
been dominant in Terre Haute over the past 11 seasons. Since the 2002-03
season, ISU has played 142 games inside Hulman Center, coming away with
victories on 111 occasions.
All About Defense
Indiana State leads the MVC and enters the weekend ranking 18th in the NCAA
in points allowed per game this season, as ISU's opponents have averaged 51.8
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 34-5 when holding their opposition under 61 points in
their three seasons with head coach Teri Moren, including a 10-3 mark this
season. During MVC games, ISU is 15-2 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 8-32.
Closing In On 1,000 Points
Senior Taylor Whitley enters Saturday's game with 939 career points, needing
61 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.
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 Indiana State. Mahan
is second on the team by averaging 13.4 points per game, while leading the way
at 8.7 rebounds per game. The sophomore from Mansfield, Ohio, has posted six
double-doubles this season, tying with Evansville's Mallory Ladd and Illinois
State's Janae Smith for the most in the conference.
Offensive Rebounds
ISU pulled down a season-high 23 offensive rebounds in their 72-57 victory
over Southern Illinois on Thursday, leading to 20 second-chance points. ISU's
23 offensive rebounds are their most since grabbing 24 offensive rebounds in a
68-48 win over Illinois State on March 5, 2005.
Winning On The Glass
The Sycamores are 9-1 this season when out-rebounding their opponents
compared to 2-4 when rebounds are equal or the opposition has more. For the
season, Indiana State has posted a 37.8-33.1 (+4.7) average edge on the glass,
tying with Missouri State for the best rebounding margin in the conference.
11 Out Of 16
Indiana State has posted wins in 11 of their 16 matchups this season, their
best start through 16 games under third-year head coach Teri Moren. This
season's 11-5 start is the best for Indiana State since opening the 2005-06
season at 14-2.
Half-by-Half
The Sycamores have outscored their opponents by a margin of 465-364 (+101)
in the opening 20 minutes of their 16 games this season, while holding a
10-point edge (475-465) in the second half and overtime. This season, Indiana
State has led at the half in 12 of their 16 games and is 10-2 when leading at
the break.
Second-Chance Points
Indiana State is averaging 13.8 offensive rebounds per game, leading to a
171-102 (+69) edge in second-chance points this season. The Sycamores have
scored more or the same number of second-chance points as their opponents in 12
of their 16 games this season.
Two For 20
Sophomore Racheal Mahan (23 points) and senior Taylor Whitley (20 points)
each scored over 20 points for Indiana State in the team's 67-49 road victory
at Drake, the first time that a pair of Sycamores have posted 20-point games in
a span of 46 contests. The last time two Sycamores scored 20 points in a game
was when Whitley (21) and Deja Mattox (22) accomplished the feat in ISU's 80-51
victory over Illinois State on March 11, 2011 in the 2011 MVC Tournament.
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 326 assists and needs 54 more assists to
pass Amy Walker (379 -- 1991-95) for sixth place. The Geneva, Ill., product,
has 206 steals in her career, needing five 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.
Among The Best
Junior Anna Munn ranks second in the MVC by averaging 2.8 three-pointers
per game, entering the weekend ranking 28th on a national scale. The ISU junior
has knocked down 42 treys this season and has made at least four in six
separate contests.
Five Years Coming
With Indiana State's 67-49 victory at Drake, the Sycamores snapped a
five-season streak of being swept on the road swing to Drake and Creighton. The
road victory over the Bulldogs was just their fourth in program history and
first since 2006-07.
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.
Munn Ranks Fourth In The Valley In
Scoring
Junior Anna Munn leads the team and ranks in a tie for fourth in the MVC in
scoring, averaging 14.7 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 13 of her 15 games
this season.
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.
Sharp Shooter
Junior Anna Munn has knocked down 135 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.
Off The Bench
Freshman Marina Laramie has appeared in all 16 games off the bench for the
Sycamores, averaging 5.9 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 105 total rebounds
and an average of 6.6 boards per game this season, going for at least six
rebounds in nine games. Over ISU's last five games, the sophomore from
Lafayette, Ind., has grabbed a team-leading 38 rebounds, going for double
figures against Bradley (11) and on the road at Drake (12).
A Little Bit Of Everything
Freshman Kasey Johnson has done whatever the team has needed her to do this
season, averaging 4.3 points, 2.4 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game
in her rookie campaign. The Plainfield, Ind., product also ranks second with
seven blocked shots and 14 three-pointers.
#PureHustle
Indiana State leads the MVC with 160 steals this season, averaging 10.0
steals per game. ISU has posted double-digit efforts in eight of their 16
games, including a season-high of 19 against Northern Illinois on Dec. 4.
381 And Counting
Indiana State has made at least one three-pointer in 381 consecutive games,
dating back to March 1, 2000, when the Sycamores went 0-for-2 in a 68-55 home
loss to Evansville.
On To The Next One...
ISU plays their next three games on the road, beginning at Illinois State
on Friday, Jan .25.
