TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Indiana State women's basketball team will play just its third regular season game in Terre Haute this season as the Sycamores welcome Tulsa on Wednesday. The Sycamores and Golden Hurricane will get underway at noon inside the Hulman Center. The game can be seen world-wide on The Valley On ESPN3 through the WatchESPN App on phones and tablets.
 
SERIES HISTORY
This will be just the second time the two programs have met after the Sycamores defeated the Golden Hurricane in Tulsa a year ago, 67-63.
 
LOOKING AT TULSA
Tulsa comes into the game with a 4-8 record, including a 2-4 record away from home this season.  TU is led by Erika Wakefield with 11.8 points per game, while Kendrian Elliott adds 10.6 points per game and a team-best 7.1 rebounds per game.  Four TU players have recorded 20+ assists this year with Wakefield pacing the squad with 40.
 
PUTTING ON THE CLAMPS
The Sycamores currently rank first in the MVC and 82nd nationally in field goal percent defense on the season, holding opponents to 36.5 percent from the field. ISU is 3-1 this year when holding the opposition to 30-39% from the field. The Sycamore defense also sits at the top of the MVC in scoring defense, holding opponents to just 60.5 points per contest.
 
SWAT TEAM
Indiana State as a whole has recorded 44 blocks as a team this year to lead the Missouri Valley. Their 4.4 blocks per game are the most by any team in the league and 71st-best in the country. The Sycamores top paint protector is Rhagen Smith who has recorded 10 blocks while her counterpart Wendi Bibbins has swatted away nine. A total of nine players have recorded blocks this year for the Sycamores.
 
CONSISTENCY
Ashley Taia, the Sycamores' leading scorer has been the most consistent offense for ISU this season. In 10 games, Taia has scored in double-figures seven times including a season best 23 points at Miami (OH). The Brisbane, Australia native also scored 19 on 8-of-10 shooting at EIU earlier in the season.
 
PULLIN THEM DOWN
From day one junior Wendi Bibbins has made her presence known in the paint on the boards. The junior has recorded a pair of double-doubles this season and has snagged double-digit rebounds in three games, including a season-best 14 boards at Florida Atlantic earlier in the year.
 
ROAD WARRIORS
When the nonconference schedule comes to a close, Indiana State will have played eight of their 11 games on the road. The Sycamores finished last season with just four road wins in all, but have already reached that mark in this year.
 
SYCAMORES SELECTED SEVENTH
The Indiana State women's basketball team has been picked to finish sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference's annual preseason poll, the conference office announced Tuesday prior to the league's annual tip-off event. Drake was picked to win the league after picking up 34 of the 40 total first-place votes followed by Northern Iowa, Missouri State, Southern Illinois and Wichita State to round out the top five. Bradley was selected seventh followed by the Illinois State, Evansville and Loyola to round out the poll.
 
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.