TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State women's basketball returns to the Hulman Center to host to Wichita State Friday night at 7 p.m. The game can be seen live world-wide on The Valley On ESPN3 while fans can also listen to the action in the Wabash Valley via WIBQ 1230 AM with Luke Martin on the call.
 
The first 100 fans will receive sunglasses courtesy of the Quad Cities Convention and Visitor's Bureau and a chance to win a $25 gift card courtesy of Bent River Brewing Company in the Quad Cities during "Hoops in the Heartland".
 
LOOKING AT WICHITA STATE
The Shockers come into Friday with an 8-10 overall record, and a 3-4 mark in MVC play. WSU is riding a three-game winning streak and are led by Rangie Bessard who is leading the team with 16 points a contest. Wichita State's TaQuandra Mike leads the teams in assists (2.9) and steals (2.0) per game.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Sycamores lead the all-time series against the Shockers, 36-33, including a 23-12 mark inside the Hulman Center. The Shockers and Sycamores split their games a year ago with each team taking a game inside their home arena. WSU has won seven of the last 10 games played in the series.
 
CONSISTENCY
Ashley Taia, the Sycamores' leading scorer has been the most consistent offense for ISU this season. Taia has scored in double-figures 14 times including a career high 26 points at Southern Illinois on New Year's Day. The Brisbane, Australia ranks seventh in the MVC in scoring at 13.6 points per game.
 
PUTTING ON THE CLAMPS
The Sycamores currently rank second in the Missouri Valley Conference, holding opponents just58.7 points per game this season. The Sycamores are leading the conference field goal percent defense, allowing the opposition to shoot just 35.7 percent from the floor. Indiana State is 7-3 when holding opponents under 60 points.
 
REBOUND AND WIN
The Sycamores are 6-1 when cleaning up on the glass this season and just 4-7 when getting outrebounded. As a team ISU sits in sixth place in the conference with 37.6 rebounds per contest while sitting second in the MVC with 26.4 defensive rebounds per game. Junior forward Wendi Bibbins leads the squad with 7.9 rebounds per contest.
 
SWAT TEAM
Indiana State as a whole has recorded 72 blocks as a team this year to lead the Missouri Valley. Their 4.0 blocks per game second-best in the MVC behind Illinois State. The Sycamores top paint protector is Wendi Bibbins who has 21 blocks while her counterpart Rhagen Smith has swatted away 14 shots. A total of 11 players have recorded blocks this year for the Sycamores.
 
STRONG IN THE VALLEY
Junior Ashley Taia is leading the way in Valley play with a 15.7 points per game average while Wendi Bibbins adds nine a game to go along with 7.3 boards. Forward Rhagen Smith is also averaging 8.7 points through seven conference games. Taia has recorded two 20+ point scoring games in MVC play. In total, the forward has three this season. She also has 14 games of double-digit scoring. Bibbins has scored in double-digits in six games in a Sycamore uniform.
 
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.