Indiana State University Athletics

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – A week after facing UIC in Chicago, Indiana State's women's basketball program will return to the Land of Lincoln for a Thursday contest at Illinois in Champaign.
 
The Sycamores (2-5) are looking for a better result after dropping a 55-46 decision to the Flames. Meanwhile Illinois (6-4) recently snapped a two-game skid with a 63-47 win at Memphis.
 
Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on BTN+ while Luke Martin will have the call on the Sycamore Radio Network.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Thursday's game will mark the ninth meeting in the all-time series but the first since a WNIT First Round match-up in Terre Haute in 2005, a 72-60 Sycamore win. Overall ISU holds a 6-2 lead in the series.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The hot-shooting streak for Indiana State came to an end Thursday night. The Sycamores, riding back-to-back games shooting over 44 percent, struggled to find the basket in a 55-46 loss at UIC.
 
Wendi Bibbins registered a double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds) to lead the Sycamores (2-5) while Regan Wentland added nine points, all of which came in the fourth quarter.
 
No matter how much UIC (3-2) would try to pull away – the Flames would lead by as much as 13 in the second half – Indiana State would keep charging back. But a slow start would prove to be too much to overcome.
 
Indiana State shot just 21.4 percent from the field through three quarters while UIC, which trailed only once in the game, shot 39.5 percent entering the final period. The Trees finally found a sense of urgency in the fourth quarter, shooting over 42 percent, but the Flames kept pace from the field and the charity stripe.
 
LOOKING AT ILLINOIS
The Fighting Illini enter Thursday's game with a 6-4 mark and their 63-47 win over Memphis on Dec. 3 snapped a two-game skid. This will be the second time Illinois will face a Missouri Valley Conference squad this year after Illinois topped Bradley on Nov. 18, 74-62.
 
Alex Wittinger leads Illinois with 12.8 points per game while also recording an impressive 25 blocks early this season, ranking seventh in the nation. And if you thought that was good, she's an even better rebounder with 92 to her credit this year, ranking her 15th in the nation.
 
THIEVING TREES
State doesn't discriminate. It takes and it takes and it takes. Credit the Sycamores as they enter this game ranked 30th in the nation in steals per game (11.4) and 39th in the nation in steals (80). Both of those marks lead the Missouri Valley Conference.
 
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 56th nationally, ISU is averaging 20.14 turnovers forced per game.
 
TREES TOPS IN TURNOVER MARGIN
With ISU leading the league in steals, steals per game and turnovers forced, it comes as no surprise that Indiana State ranks 63rd in the nation – and atop The Valley – in turnover margin, with a +3.86 clip this season.
 
BIBBINS ON THE BOARDS
Indiana State senior Wendi Bibbins has been bombarding the paint lately and the numbers have noticed. Bibbins ranks 70th in the nation in rebounds per game (9.3) while ranking 91st in the nation in total rebounds (65). Both marks also place her second in the Missouri Valley Conference.
 
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.