Indiana State University Athletics

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State has won three consecutive road games and will put that streak on the line Friday evening when the Sycamores travel to Normal, Illinois for a Missouri Valley Conference contest at Illinois State.
 
The game will be broadcast live on The Valley on ESPN3 while Luke Martin will have the call on the Sycamore Radio Network.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Overall, it's close as Illinois State holds a five-game advantage (49-44) in the all-time series. But the Redbirds seem to fly at home, winning 30 of the 48 meetings in Normal over the Sycamores. Recent games are trending towards the Trees as Indiana State has one seven of the last 10 meetings.

THE LAST TIME
Indiana State 52, Illinois State 49 - Jan. 21, 2018 - Terre Haute, Ind.
Indiana State made a big fourth quarter stand, holding Illinois State to just one field goal in the final frame, as the Sycamores claimed the weekend sweep with a 52-49 win Sunday afternoon at the Hulman Center in Missouri Valley Conference play.
 
The momentum of the game swung like a pendulum throughout the fourth quarter with three lead changes but it came down to two things the Sycamores (5-13, 3-4) have not been known for this season – a late-game run and success at the free throw line – to pull out the win and seal the weekend sweep.
 
The visiting Redbirds (8-10, 2-5) would shoot 1-for-12 from the field in the fourth quarter and couldn't stop Indiana State's game-ending 7-0 run, save for two free throws with 0.9 seconds left. But while the Sycamores also struggled from the field in the final stanza, hitting only 3 of 11 shots (27.3 percent), the Trees were 7-for-8 from the free throw line and were perfect from the charity stripe in the final minute as the game teetered on a one-possession differential.
 
For Ty Battle, two of her career-best six blocked shots came in that final quarter as her last one came near the start of that last run with 1:47 left to seal the victory.
 
THE KEI(STER) TO THE TURNAROUND
Credit the job of interim head coach Josh Keister. Since he took over the reins of the program on Jan. 2, the Sycamores have gone 5-2 and improved in almost every statistical category.
 

	Under	Under
Category	Wells	Keister	% Δ
Points Per Game	58	59.3	2.24%
Points Allowed Per Game	66.2	60.7	-8.31%
FG Percentage	.355	.350	-1.41%
3FG Percentage	.303	.250	-17.49%
FT Percentage	.645	.677	4.96%
FT Made Per Game	9.8	10.9	11.22%
Rebounds Per Game	34.2	34.8	1.75%
Assists Per Game	10.9	11.9	9.17%
Turnovers Per Game	15.8	12.4	-21.52%
Turnover Margin	1.8	5.3	194.44%
Steals Per Game	9.9	10.0	1.01%
Blocks Per Game	3.1	5.3	70.97%

 
KEISTER KARE
Not only are the Sycamores causing fewer turnovers since Josh Keister took over, they are winning the turnover battle. Heading into this week, Indiana State has committed fewer turnovers in every game under Josh Keister's guidance than any of the opposing teams.

TURNOVER TALLY
Indiana State continues to improve on its turnover marks and it's starting to get noticed. Entering this game, the Sycamores are ranked 48th nationally in the fewest turnovers committed (330), a mark that ranks second in The Valley behind only Missouri State.

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 and first in The Valley in steals per game (10.0) and 75th in the nation in steals (229), also ranking first in The Valley.

LAST TIME OUT
Drake 84, Indiana State 51 - Feb. 11, 2018 - Terre Haute, Ind.
Ashli O'Neal may be short, but never underestimate her toughness. Even a cut on her chin and eventual stitches after the game didn't keep her from recording a fifth-consecutive double-figure performance.
 
O'Neal led all players with 16 points and was one of three players to record three steals for the Sycamores (8-15, 6-6 Missouri Valley). But while her double figures streak was extended, so was Drake's win streak as the Bulldogs ran away with an 84-51 win over Indiana State Sunday afternoon at the Hulman Center, extending their winning streak to 35 straight league games.
 
The Sycamore point guard didn't back down against a team that recently moved up to 14th in the Mid-Major rankings. She didn't back down after a cut on her chin sent her to the athletic training room to stop the bleeding and never thought about not returning when stitches became an inevitability and halftime was spent with an ice pack to her chin.  But in the end, Drake was too much for the Sycamores to handle. Despite an eight-point halftime differential, the Bulldogs (18-7, 13-0) exploded out of the gate in the second half, outscoring Indiana State 29-12 in the third quarter.
 
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.