TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State will return to the hardwood after a 10-day break for final exams as the Sycamores host Miami (Ohio) on Tuesday evening at the Hulman Center.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET and the game will be carried live on The Valley on ESPN3.
Luke Martin will have the call on the Sycamore Radio Network (WIBQ 1230AM in Terre Haute).
Tuesday's game will be Kids Club Day. Members of the Sycamores Kids Club will have an opportunity to make their own holiday ornaments before the game on the concourse of the Hulman Center.
SERIES HISTORY
ISU holds a slight 4-3 advantage in the all-time series thanks to a 62-54 win last season in Oxford. In known games in Terre Haute, Miami has a 1-0 advantage but four of the games in the series were played at unknown sites (records do not indicate location).
LAST TIME OUT
Wendi Bibbins scored 22 points and
Tierra Webb added 14 for Indiana State but a rally against the preseason Mid-American Conference favorite fell short in a 77-67 loss to Central Michigan Saturday afternoon at the Hulman Center.
Credit the improved shooting by Bibbins and the rest of her team to allow a comeback to even be possible. The senior forward scored a career best 11 field goals and the Sycamores (2-7) tied a season-best shooting performance with a 45.8 clip from the field.
However, it was a second quarter dip that provided a daunting task for the host Sycamores. Central Michigan (8-1), ranked ninth in the mid-major poll, went on a 15-0 run just before halftime and the Chippewas took an 18-point lead into the intermission thanks in part to Presley Hudson's 18 points at the break, all from 3-pointers.
Trailing by as much as 22 in the third quarter, Indiana State would use a renewed energy and focus in the second half to slowly whittle away at Central Michigan's lead. The Sycamores would pull within five points with less to three minutes to play before the Chippewas would pull away for good.
LOOKING AT MIAMI
This team is not the Redhawks of yesteryear, or even last year. Under the new direction of Megan Duffy in her first year in Oxford, Miami (6-3) is already halfway to their win total of last season. Also having a 10-day break for exams like Indiana State, Miami brings a four-game winning streak to Terre Haute including an overtime win at IUPUI.
A majority of the Redhawk success starts with Lauren Dickerson. A sophomore, Dickerson is averaging 22.3 points per game, an impressive mark that ranks seventh in the nation. She also ranks 18th nationally in assists per game (6.3), 25th in 3-pointers made (32) and 29th in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.85). But Dickerson isn't the only long-range threat as Leah Purvis (18-for-37) is 22nd in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage at 48.6 percent.
THIEVING TREES
State doesn't discriminate. It takes and it takes and it takes. Credit the Sycamores as they enter this game ranked 52nd in the nation in steals per game (10.6) and 79th in the nation in steals (95), ranking first in the Missouri Valley Conference in both categories.
SWIPE RIGHT (AND LEFT)
A major reason Indiana State is ranked so high nationally in steals is thanks to the swiping ability of three players. A trio of Sycamores enter the game ranked in the top five with a total of five Sycamores ranked in the top 10 in the Missouri Valley Conference in steals per game.
MVC Steals Per Game
| |
STEALS |
Cl |
GP |
No. |
Avg/G |
| 3. |
Isaiah, Kierra |
JR |
7 |
12 |
1.7 |
| 4. |
Webb, Tierra |
JR |
9 |
15 |
1.7 |
| |
Bibbins, Wendi |
SR |
9 |
15 |
1.7 |
| 8. |
Delgado, Alexis |
JR |
9 |
11 |
1.2 |
| |
O'Neal, Ashli |
SO |
9 |
11 |
1.2 |
FORCING THE ISSUE
In addition to Indiana State leading The Valley in steals, the Sycamores are tops in the league and among the best in the conference in turnovers forced. Ranked 90th nationally, ISU is averaging 18.63 turnovers forced per game.
TREES TOPS IN TURNOVER MARGIN
With ISU leading the league in steals per game and turnovers forced and second in steals, it comes as no surprise that Indiana State ranks 100th in the nation – and atop The Valley – in turnover margin, with a +2.56 clip this season.
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
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Instagram.
