Gameday Central Sponsored by: Westminster Village

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State marks the end of non-conference play and a close to the 2015 calendar year when it welcomes Butler on Monday night. Tipoff between the in-state foes is set for 6:05 p.m. ET and is live on The Valley on ESPN3. 

Indiana State Sycamores (3-7)

Head Coach: Joey Wells

Record at ISU: 20-20 (2^nd Season)

Career Record: Same

Indiana State Projected Starters (based on last game starters)

Butler Bulldogs

Head Coach: Kurt Godlevske (Northern Michigan '94)

Record at Butler:  19-21 (2^nd Season)

Career Record: Same

Butler Projected Starters (based on last game starters)

SERIES HISTORY

All Time Series: Indiana State leads 14-12

Last Meeting: Nov. 16, 2014 (Indianapolis, Ind.)

Result: W, 66-51

Under Coach Wells: 1-0

Last Five Meetings

12/4/10                 L, 72-81 (Indianapolis, Ind.)

12/6/11                 W, 49-46 (Terre Haute, Ind.)

12/22/12               L, 45-56 (Indianapolis, Ind.)

12/21/13               W, 62-56 (Terre Haute, Ind.)

11/16/14               W, 66-51 (Indianapolis, Ind.)

PROMOTIONS

·    Salute to Service: All active and retired military, police and fireman (with valid ID) will receive $5 admission

·    Forest seating: With students on break, fans can purchase tickets in the Forest student section for $8

·    Sycamore Squad Club December birthday celebration: the Sycamore Squad Club will hold its December birthday celebration in the Varsity Club postgame

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS

Butler comes into Terre Haute off a win over SEC Arkansas (63-57) on December 13 and hold a 5-5 mark entering Monday's match up. The Bulldogs are led by senior guard Blaire Langlois (13.1 ppg., 4.5 rpg., 3.1 apg.) and freshman forward Brittany Ward (10.5 ppg., 7.2 rpg.). Sophomore guard Sydney Buck adds 9.9 points per contest while freshman guard Michelle Weaver is fresh off a career-high 19 point performance versus the Razorbacks. Butler averages 60.0 points per ball game on a 38.5 shooting clip and are 35.0 percent from beyond 3-point range.

TAIA NAMED MVC NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK

Redshirt sophomore Ashley Taia dropped a new career-high 21 points as Indiana State dropped three point decision to Big Ten Indiana on Tuesday. The Brisbane, Australia native went 7-for-13 from the floor on the night including a 5-for-9 effort from 3-point range. She also chipped in six rebounds and added an assist and block in 29 minutes of action on Tuesday. Taia also made her sixth consecutive start against the Hoosiers and is now averaging 10.0 points, shooting a team-high 45.2 percent from the floor while adding nearly four rebounds per game.

STIFLING DEFENSE IS BACK

Second year head coach Joey Wells' calling card has always been a strong defensive game. Indiana State is beginning to pick it up on the defensive end as it leads the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring defense, allowing just 61.5 points per game. This season, ISU has held three opponents to 60 points or less and force its opponent to commit 16.6 turnovers per game. They are one of four teams in the league with a positive turnover margin with +1.80 on the season.  

NON-CON ALMOST DONE

Indiana State officially wraps up the non-conference portion of its schedule on Monday, December 21 when it welcomes Butler to Hulman Center. Already in the midst of a 13 day break, ISU will go 11 days in between the end of non-con and the beginning of the MVC schedule which kicks off January 1 at home versus Wichita State.

HOME SWEET HOME

Thanks to the home-court advantage of Hulman Center, the Sycamores have been dominant in Terre Haute over the past 13 seasons. Since the 2002-03 season, Indiana State is 132-45 (.745) and are 1-3 at home in 2015-16.

LONG LAYOVER

After Tuesday's game versus Indiana, the Sycamores will have gone 13 days in between games. The Sycamores also face another layover when it goes 11 games rolling into the New Year when it begins MVC play versus Wichita State.

RHAGEY'S BEST YEAR YET

Junior forward Rhagen Smith has put together her best year yet in a Sycamore uniform, setting both career-highs in points and rebounds. She's averaging 6.3 points and 4.8 rebounds along with 17.2 minutes per contest and hit season highs with 13 points against UMKC and nine rebounds in the home opener against Eastern Illinois. Smith is also one of the Sycamores' top free throw shooters with an 81.3 percent clip (13-for-16) and shoots 43.6 percent from the floor (24-for-55).

C CONTINUES TO LEAD

Redshirt senior Cierra Ceazer continues to lead Indiana State in the early portion of the schedule as she's scored in double figures in eight of 10 contests, tying her career-high with 18 points versus Stephen F. Austin at the Plaza Lights Classic. On the season, the Topeka, Kan. native averages 11.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

TAIA TAKES ADVANTAGE

Redshirt sophomore Ashley Taia has taken advantage of her new spot in the Sycamores' starting lineup as she has positioned herself as the team's second leading scorer (10.0 points per game) and grabbed 3.9 rebounds in eight games played this season. The Brisbane, Australia native has started the last six games at forward for the Sycamores and scored in double digits three times including her career-high last week against Indiana.

SMITH NAMED WBCA GOOD WORKS NOMINEE

Indiana State junior forward Rhagen Smith earned a nomination to the WBCA Good Works Team. The award honors student-athletes for their community service efforts and Smith is one of 70 Division I women's basketball nominees for the award. In addition, she's just one of three nominees that represented 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.