The Indiana State women's basketball team hosts Bradley in the Sycamores' final home game of the year at Hulman Center on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 2:05 (ET). ISU seeks its seventh conference win of the year against the Braves, and Senior Day festivities honoring seniors Kelsey Luna, Sarah Paul Laurence Rivest will follow immediately after the game.
Live stats, audio and video are available at GoSycamores.com, while both games can be heard on 92.7 The Crock, with Brent Holl and Vaso Michels calling the action.
ISU has forged through the 2009-10 season with a 15-11 (6-9 MVC) record, sparked by a 77-73 road victory at Kansas State on Nov. 14. The Sycamores then posted wins at Furman (62-47) and USC Upstate (80-72) on Nov. 19 and 21, respectively.
They made their home debut with a trio of wins over SEMO (72-27), Central Michigan (76-57) and Detroit Mercy (70-53). Indiana State earned a road win, 65-49, over SIU Edwardsville on Dec. 5, and suffered its only loss of the year against Butler, 67-60. ISU took a close win at Eastern Illinois, 65-63, followed by a 1-1 showing at the Bahamas Sunsplash Shootout, Dec. 19-20, in Nassau, Bahamas. The Sycamores first earned a 69-65 win over UMKC, then dropped a 69-54 contest to SMU the following night.
Indiana State faced an uphill MVC battle in its first five league games, beginning with a 55-44 loss to preseason favorite Creighton and an 87-73 defeat at the hands of Drake. ISU then dropped a contest to Illinois State, 69-53, on Jan. 8, followed by a pair of tough defeats to Wichita State (65-61) and Missouri State (69-65).
The Sycamores earned their first Valley win, 55-31 over Evansville, to snap a six-game losing streak, followed by another victory over Southern Illinois, 63-51. They dropped two games against Bradley (59-54) and Northern Iowa (85-68), then took a 90-61 loss at Illinois State on Feb. 6.
Two weeks ago, Indiana State hosted Missouri State in a 69-58 loss, but rebounded with a dominant 81-59 win over Wichita State. Last weekend, the Sycamores earned a 70-62 win at Southern Illinois, followed by a 70-51 victory at Evansville for their first Valley sweep of the season. They most recently extended their winning streak to four games with a win over Northern Iowa, 70-62.
Scouting the Competition: Bradley Braves
Bradley is 14-11 (10-5 MVC) entering Sunday's game at Indiana State, having last seen the court on Feb. 25 in a 71-58 loss at Illinois State.
In 2008-09, BU compiled a record of 21-10 (11-7 MVC) and was chosen sixth in this year's MVC preseason poll, just behind fifth-place ISU. The Braves opened 2009-10 with a 4-6 non-conference record. They are 5-3 since facing ISU on Jan. 28, highlighted by last week's wins over Creighton (72-62) and Drake (63-55).
Katie Yohn is Bradley's leading scorer with an average of 10.0 points per game, while Sonya Harris is its top rebounder with 9.8 boards per contest. Harris is also among the MVC leaders in blocked shots, just ahead of ISU's Shannon Thomas.
Head coach Pam Buscher is in her 10th season at the helm of the Bradley program.
Wiedie Suspended for Remainder of Season
Indiana State University Director of Athletics Ron Prettyman announced Feb. 9 that head coach Jim Wiedie was suspended for the remainder of the season, effective immediately. The current assistant coaches -- Clint Weddle, Melanie Boeglin and Cammie Campbell -- will handle the day-to-day operations of the program.
"This was a difficult decision that needed to be made for the welfare of our program and our student athletes," Prettyman said. "We wish Jim Wiedie well as he pursues other opportunities, and thank him for his years of service to Sycamore Athletics and the women's basketball program."
Practice will be closed to the media and public for the remainder of the season. No further comment from the Athletic Department will be made at this time.
Weddle, Boeglin, Campbell Assume Tri-Coaching Duties
After Jim Wiedie's suspension on Feb. 9, Director of Athletics Ron Prettyman elaborated that assistant coaches Clint Weddle, Melanie Boeglin and Cammie Campbell would assume shared duties of running the team's day-to-day operations for the remainder of the year. No interim head coach has been appointed, and all remaining wins and losses will be attributed equally to the three coaches.
Weddle has previous women's head coaching experience from a two-year stint at his alma mater, Oakland City University. With the Oaks, he posted a 35-24 record from 2004 to 2006.
After Friday's win over Northern Iowa, Boeglin and Campbell's career records read 4-1 in their first year, despite the duo having served part of their second full year on staff as assistant coaches. Weddle is now 39-25 in his third year.
It's All About the 3s for No. 33
Kelsey Luna needs just one 3-pointer to tie former Sycamore Kourtney Mennen -- both of whom have worn jersey No. 33 at ISU -- for the school's all-time career record for threes. Mennen had 256 total triples over four years, while Luna sits at 255. The senior from St. Louis has 47 so far in her senior season and ranks seventh all-time in MVC history.
Movin' On Up
Kelsey Luna hit 44 consecutive free throws from Nov. 14 to Dec. 12, bypassing the previous school record of 33 set by Kourtney Mennen in 2003. Luna's mark is second all-time in Missouri Valley Conference history, just behind Katie Miller of Northern Iowa, who had 53 in 2000.
Luna kept her second-longest free throw streak of the season going midway through the Southern Illinois game with 25 made from Dec. 19 to Jan. 23. Through games of Feb. 21, she ranks second nationally in Division I in free throw shooting percentage with a .918 clip.
Luna Among Division I Free Throw Percentage Leaders
Rank Player (School) Through Feb. 24
1 Laiken Dollente (Portland) 128/139 = .921
2 Kelsey Luna (Indiana State) 90/98 = .918
3 Lauren Prochaska (Bowling Green) 119/130 = .915
4 Elena Delle Donne (Delaware) 146/160 = .913
5 Jacqui Kalin (Northern Iowa) 83/91 = .912
6 Emily London (Samford) 85/94 = .904
7 Chelsea Marandola (Providence) 81/90 = .900
8 Gwen Washington (East Tenn. St.) 68/76 = .895
9 Jaime Navarro (Georgia Southern) 106/119 = .891
10 Gabriela Marginean (Drexel) 158/178 = .888
Luna's 1,370 career points have moved her up to ninth all-time on the Sycamores' scoring charts. She is just ahead of Judy Ellner (1,367), who played from 1978-82. Luna's next target to pass on the list is 1,383 points from Georgia Bottoms (1993-98).
Luna Named First-Team Academic All-American
Kelsey Luna earned ESPN The Magazine First-Team Academic All-America distinction, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced Tuesday. The Academic All-America team is selected by a vote of sports information directors, and five student-athletes are included on the first team.
With a perfect 4.0 grade-point average in psychology, Luna was previously a Second-Team Academic All-American as a junior. The 2010 season also marks three straight years that she has been named to an academic all-district team, having earned first-team status the last two years and second-team plaudits in her sophomore season.
Indiana State boasts an Academic All-American in each of the last five seasons, most recently with Luna as a second-team selection in 2008-09 and her current first-team award for 2009-10. Previously, Laura Rudolphi was a two-time honoree in 2006-07 and 2007-08, and Melanie Boeglin took first-team status in 2005-06.
ISU is one of only three schools, along with Tennessee and Maryland, to lead the way with five women's basketball Academic All-Americans in the last five seasons. In addition, Indiana State is the only institution with five consecutive women's basketball Academic All-Americans from 2005-06 to 2009-10.
Schoen Shines From Downtown
Sophomore Brittany Schoen has been on a multiple-trey tear, making at least three 3-pointers in eight of the last 12 games. The Elizabeth, Ind., native has connected on 33 over the six-week span, including a career-best-tying five over Southern Illinois. She chipped in three against Wichita State, extending her team-leading season total to 57. She is just ahead of Kelsey Luna (47), who ranks among the best 3-point shooters in school history.
Schoen had an outstanding day against Central Michigan on Nov. 29, as she set or tied multiple career highs. Schoen paced ISU with a game-high and career-best 17 points on five 3-pointers, both of which were matched in the SIU game on Jan. 23.
Luna's Double-Double Leads Sycamores Against Missouri State
Senior Kelsey Luna achieved the first double-double of her career on against Missouri State on Feb. 12, finishing with 17 points and a career-best 10 rebounds. The St. Louis, Mo., native's performance was her 15th double-figure scoring effort of the season, and marked her highest point total since 26 against Butler on Dec. 9. Luna's previous career high on the boards was eight, set at Furman on Nov. 19.
Sycamores Top MVC in Home Attendance
Indiana State leads The Valley in home-game attendance in 2009-10, averaging 4,217 fans per contest at Hulman Center. It passes Missouri State (3,814 fans per game at JQH Arena), which has led the league in home attendance all season.
A Queen of the Block
Sophomore Shannon Thomas has been a key defensive cog for ISU over 26 contests, averaging 9.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game (40 total) in 702 minutes of work. She is ranked third in the Valley in blocked shots, behind only Bradley's Sonya Harris and Illinois State's Nicolle Lewis.
Thomas tallied her fifth double-double of the season and the sixth of her career against Northern Iowa, finishing with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Earlier this season, the Springboro, Ohio, native, totaled 16 points and a career-high 15 rebounds at Missouri State on Jan. 16, the most boards of any player in the Wiedie era.
Thomas' Career Double-Doubles
Date Season Opponent Points Rebounds
1/17/09 2008-09 at Missouri State 11 11
11/21/09 2009-10 at USC Upstate 19 13
12/9/09 2009-10 Butler 10 10
1/16/10 2009-10 at Missouri State 16 15
2/18/10 2009-10 at Southern Illinois 10 13
2/26/10 2009-10 vs. Northern Iowa 10 14
Luna Eclipses 1,000 Career Points Mark
At Kansas State on Nov. 14, Kelsey Luna reached the coveted 1,000 career points mark in the first game of her senior year by scoring a Valley-best 37 points. She is the 22nd Sycamore to accomplish the milestone.
In Friday's win over Northern Iowa, Luna contributed 23 points for the Sycamores. Over the last three-plus seasons, she has totaled 1,370 career points.
Luna currently leads Indiana State in total points (386), points per game (14.8), free throws made (101-110), assists (83) and steals (60).
Luna's Points by Season
2006-07 (Fr.) 2007-08 (So.) 2008-09 (Jr.) 2009-10 (Sr.) Career Total
342 320 322 386 1,370
Whitley Works Her Way Into Starting Lineup
Over her first 13 games off the bench, freshman Taylor Whitley averaged 7.1 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. Since taking a starting role on Jan. 8, she has averaged 9.2 points and 3.5 boards over the last 13 games. Whitley also had a career performance against Drake with 22 points on 5-for-10 shooting from the field and a 10-for-13 effort at the free throw line.
Sycamore Defense Holds Evansville to Record 31 Points
Indiana State kept Evansville's offensive efforts to just 31 points on Jan. 21, the second-lowest point total in MVC history. It was also the best in Sycamore history for a conference game. Northern Iowa holds the top mark after holding Wichita State to 30 points in 2007-08.
The 2009-10 Sycamores have held SEMO and Evansville to the second- and third-lowest opponent scores in program history, respectively. In addition, UE's 13 points in the second half against ISU was the lowest of any Sycamore opponent since 10 by SEMO earlier this season and nine by IPFW in 2002.
30-Point Games in the Last 10 Seasons
Score Opponent Season
96-28 IPFW 2002-03
72-28 SEMO 2009-10
55-31 Evansville 2009-10
58-34 Missouri State 2005-06
63-37 Southern Illinois 2008-09
50-38 Drake 2008-09
Balanced Scoring Attack
Though Kelsey Luna had an outstanding 37-point performance to lead the Sycamores in their season opener, ISU shared scoring duties among six different players. Kelsie Cooley (12) and Deja Mattox (11) both reached double digits, while Shannon Thomas chipped in seven points of her own. In addition, ISU had 10 off the bench; Chelsea Buher added four, and Taylor Whitley had six points off free throws alone.
Since then, all 13 active Sycamores have contributed offensively through 26 games, with Kelsey Luna (14.8) and Shannon Thomas (9.0) topping the charts. ISU has had three or more double-digit scorers in 14 games, including five at Eastern Illinois on Dec. 12: Whitley (14), Luna (12), Brittany Schoen (11), Thomas (10) and Moriah Hodge (10).
In conference action, Luna (12.9 points per MVC game) is joined by Whitley (9.7) to share scoring duties, followed by Schoen (8.4), Cooley (8.3), Mattox (8.3) and Thomas (7.7).
Pounding the Paint
Indiana State had a 7-0 start to open the year, due in part to the Sycamores' effort in the post. Over the last three months, ISU has outscored its opponents 586-432 in the paint, making 35 percent of its shots inside.
On Jan. 16 at Missouri State, ISU made 55 percent (36-65) of its shots in the paint.
Luna Earns Second Straight MVC Player of the Week Award
Kelsey Luna was named MVC Player of the Week for the second straight week, the league office announced on Nov. 23. Luna's combined 50-point performance over two games at Furman and USC Upstate garnered her the weekly conference honor for the second time this season and third time in her career.
The senior was previously named player of the week on Nov. 15 after a career-best 37-point game at K-State.
Welcome to the Show
Three Indiana State newcomers -- freshmen Moriah Hodge and Taylor Whitley and sophomore Chelsea Buher -- made their Sycamore debuts against Kansas State on Nov. 14. Hodge finished with six rebounds, a block and a steal, while Whitley totaled three steals and six points, all from the free throw line.
With 26 appearances off the bench to her credit, Hodge has 3.2 points with 2.6 boards per contest. She and Whitley were among five Sycamores who reached double-figuring scoring at Eastern Illinois on Dec. 12. Whitley's 14 points led ISU in the 65-63 win, while Hodge had a career best of 10.
Sycamores' 7-0 Start Ranks Among Best in Program History
}Before a 67-60 loss to Butler, Indiana State's 7-0 start through Dec. 8 ranked second all-time in program history, just behind a 10-0 mark from the 1973-74 Sycamores. The early undefeated record was ISU's best since 2007-08, when it was 3-0 to begin the year.
Best Season Starts in ISU History
Rank Season Record Coach
1 1973-74 10-0 Edith Godleski
2 2009-10 7-0 Jim Wiedie
3 1998-99 4-0 Cheryl Reeve
1976-77 4-0 Edith Godleski
1975-76 4-0 Edith Godleski
2007-08 3-0 Jim Wiedie
2002-03 3-0 Jim Wiedie
1990-91 3-0 Kay Riek
Sycamore Schedule Features Six Postseason Teams
ISU's schedule for the 2009-10 season will serve as a challenge for the Sycamores in preparation for postseason competition in March. The slate includes games with six postseason-qualifying teams from last season -- Kansas State (NCAA), Evansville (NCAA), Creighton (NIT), Illinois State (NIT), Butler (NIT) and SMU (NIT).
KSU played in first- and second-round NCAA action before falling to Vanderbilt, 74-61. Evansville's NCAA run ended with a first-round loss to Texas A&M, 80-45.
Luna Selected to Preseason All-MVC Team
Kelsey Luna was named to the Preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference team, the league office announced in October. Luna was previously honored as first-team All-MVC in 2009 despite missing the eight of games of her junior season due to an ACL tear. She is joined on the preseason squad by Casey Garrison (Missouri State), Maggie Krick (Illinois State), Megan Neuvirth (Creighton) and Jordann Plummer (Drake).
ISU Picked Fifth in Preseason MVC Poll
Indiana State was selected to finish fifth in the MVC's 2009-10 preseason poll, the conference office announced prior to MVC Media Day in October. The Sycamores earned 250 points for fifth place, sitting behind preseason favorite Creighton (393), Illinois State (340), Drake (296) and Northern Iowa (253). Bradley (214) came in at sixth, followed by Missouri State (188), Evansville (108), Wichita State (97) and Southern Illinois (61). Preseason standings are chosen in a survey of league coaches, sports information directors and media members.
ISU Has Young, Experienced Sophomores in 2009-10
Despite having a roster with just three seniors and one junior, Indiana State returns considerable experience for the 2009-10 season. After suffering a setback with four ACL injuries last year -- including all-conference pick Kelsey Luna -- the Sycamores were forced to utilize all of their underclassmen in considerable playing roles. Three then-freshmen -- Brittany Schoen, Shannon Thomas and Deja Mattox -- all averaged over 20 minutes per game in their inaugural season and have since resumed a starting role for ISU in 2009-10.
Thomas totaled 161 rebounds (5.4 per game) as a freshman and ranks behind only senior Kelsey Luna (255) and junior Kelsie Cooley (187) among active career leaders in that category. In addition, Thomas is the Sycamores' active career leader in blocks with 32.
Schoen, who averaged nearly 25 minutes per game last season, capped her first-year campaign with a season-best performance against Bradley at the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. She put up 16 points against the Braves and finished the year with 20 steals, good for third-most on the team.
Mattox had an outstanding first half of the season before tearing her ACL on Jan. 22 against Southern Illinois. Before the injury, she averaged almost 27 minutes per game, as well as 8.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per contest.
Five Freshmen Added to ISU Roster
Five freshmen are part of Indiana State's roster this season -- Moriah Hodge, Meaghan MacDougall, Andrea Rademacher, Krista Smith and Taylor Whitley.
Smith is a local product from Terre Haute South Vigo High School. She made the most of her career-high 17 minutes of action against Evansville on Jan. 21, notching career bests in points (four) and rebounds (four) with an assist and a steal to her credit.
MacDougall and Rademacher are unlikely to see action in the 2009-10 season due to injuries. Rademacher has a right foot injury that will keep her off the court at least three months, while MacDougall has a pre-existing leg condition and is awaiting surgery.
ISU Signs Four Student-Athletes for Class of 2010
The women's basketball program announced on Nov. 11 that four student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent for the 2010-10 season: Nikki Gunning, Anna Munn, Sadie Oyer, and Illyssa Vivo.
2010 Signing Class
Player Pos. Ht. Hometown (High School)
Nikki Gunning G 5-8 Howell, Mich. (Howell)
14 ppg, 632 career points; Press & Argus Player of the Year; Class A district champion
Anna Munn F 5-10 Indianapolis, Ind. (Decatur Central)
16.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.6 apg; Two-time all-state; Ranked No. 2 prospect in Indiana (by ESPN HoopGurlz)
Sadie Oyer C 6-2 Huntsville, Ohio (Indian Lake)
10.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg; AP Division 2 state champion; Three-time all-conference
Illyssa Vivo G 5-9 Plantation, Fla. (American Heritage)
9 ppg, 4 rpg, 3.6 apg; Two-time all-county; First Wiedie recruit from Florida
2008-09 Squad Tops WBCA's National Team GPA List
Indiana State finished first in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's 2008-09 Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll released in July. With six student-athletes posting perfect 4.0 grade-point averages, the Sycamores tallied a team GPA of 3.645 last season to win the national team title for the third time in program history (2003, 2005). It also marked the eighth consecutive season that ISU has appeared in the top 25. Kelsey Luna led the academic charge by being named a second-team Academic All-American by CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine.
In the Fall 2009 semester, the Sycamores had nine squad members with a 3.5 GPA or better. Three student-athletes -- Luna, Kelsie Cooley and Andrea Rademacher -- each earned 4.0s to help their team to a group GPA of 3.5.
Up Next for the Sycamores...
Indiana State hits the road for its final regular-season games of the season at Drake on Thursday, March 4 and Creighton on Saturday, March 6. Tipoff at DU is set for 8:05 p.m. (ET) in Des Moines, Iowa.
