Indiana State University Athletics

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – "There's no place like home." Surely Indiana State is thinking this as the Sycamore women's basketball team finally returns home for just their third home game in a month as Central Michigan visits the Hulman Center on Saturday.
 
Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET as part of a women's-men's doubleheader. The game will be broadcast live on The Valley on ESPN3 and on the Sycamore Radio Network (WIBQ in Terre Haute). Fans with tickets to the women's game are invited to stay in the Hulman Center for the men's game in a general admission section.
 
Saturday's contest will start a six-game homestand for the Sycamores, a run of home games that will stretch into the new year.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Home court advantage. That can be the only way describe the series between Indiana State and Central Michigan. While the Sycamores hold a slight 4-3 advantage overall, ISU has won all three meetings in Terre Haute while CMU has won all three meetings in Mount Pleasant (the location 1979-80 contest is unknown).
 
LAST TIME OUT
Ashli O'Neal led all players with 19 points but Indiana State fell prey to a hot-shooting Illinois squad in an 81-52 loss Thursday evening at the State Farm Center in Champaign.
 
The sophomore guard was a steady 6-for-14 (42.9 percent) from the field but the rest of the team's shooting took its cue from the below freezing temperatures in the Champaign-Urbana region, shooting a combined 26.7 percent in the game.
 
However, O'Neal's performance wasn't enough against a Big Ten team that shot 47.7 percent from the field and registered four players in double-digit points. Illinois (7-4) was led by Petra Holesinska's 16 points.
 
Ty Battle, making her first collegiate start in an arena where fans fondly recall her surname, took over in the second quarter scoring all of her seven points in the frame. Her father, Kenny, was a two-time All-Big Ten player and led the Illini to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances – including a Final Four run his senior year – before going on to a four-year NBA career.
 
LOOKING AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN
One of the most potent offenses in the country, Central Michigan brings a 7-1 record and the nation's 12th-ranked scoring offense to the Hulman Center Saturday. Ranked ninth in the Mid-Major poll, CMU opened the year with a 79-69 loss to Purdue then has won out, including wins over Vanderbilt (92-75), San Diego State (85-76, OT) and Iowa State (81-60).
 
Reyna Frost ranks fourth in the nation averaging 13.5 rebounds per game while the Chippewas have five players averaging over 11 points per game, led by Presley Hudson's 20.1 ppg average, ranking 19th nationally.
 
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 in steals per game (10.6), ranking first in the Missouri Valley Conference and 63rd in the nation in steals (85), ranking second in the MVC.
 
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 90th nationally, ISU is averaging 18.63 turnovers forced per game.
 
TREES TOPS IN TURNOVER MARGIN
With ISU leading the league in steals per game and turnovers forced and second in steals, it comes as no surprise that Indiana State ranks 98th in the nation – and atop The Valley – in turnover margin, with a +2.63 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 79th in the nation in rebounds per game (9.0) while ranking 110th 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.