TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Just a week ahead of its 2017-18 season opener, the Indiana State women's basketball team will travel to Charleston, Illinois for an exhibition contest with Eastern Illinois. The Sycamores and Panthers will tip at 5 p.m. ET from Lantz Arena. Live stats will be provided for the contest.
Both teams have been granted a one-time NCAA waiver to play an additional exhibition game with proceeds to go towards a pre-determined disaster relief effort.
Fourth-year head coach
Joey Wells returns three starters from last year's squad, including MVC Newcomer of the Year
Wendi Bibbins (10.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg), Honorable Mention guard
Ashley Taia (12.1 ppg) and
Tierra Webb (7.7 ppg) who started all 30 games. The three players combined for 30 points last season, accounting for 54.4 percent of the teams' offense.
In total, the Sycamores return seven letterwinners from last season's 12-18 squad including
Regan Wentland (3.9 ppg),
Maryam Wilcher (2.0 ppg),
Ashli O'Neal (4.5 ppg) and
Freja Christensen (0.8 ppg).
Indiana State adds seven new faces to their roster, including three freshmen (
Ty Battle,
Krystal Rice and
AJ Thomas), and four junior college transfers in
Kendra Boone,
Alexis Delgado,
Kierra Isaiah and
Maeva Kitantou.
Indiana State leads the all-time series 36-22, including four-straight victories in the series. The Sycamores led from start to finish last season in Charleston during ISU's 88-61 win.
Ashley Taia had a team high 19 points, including a trio of 3-pointers.
Wendi Bibbins nearly recorded a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds while
Freja Christensen set a career high with nine points.
Indiana State will play its originally scheduled exhibition Sunday (Nov. 5) against Illinois Springfield inside the Hulman Center at 2 p.m. ET before the team lifts the lid on the 2017-18 campaign at home Friday, Nov. 10, against Saint Louis University. Tipoff for the matchup with the Billikens is slated for 7 p.m. ET. Both home contest will also air on The Valley ON ESPN3.
Indiana State men's and women's basketball tickets are now available for purchase at GoSycamores.com/tickets, by calling 812.237.3737 or by visiting the ISU Ticket Office daily between 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.
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.
