Indiana State University Athletics

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – It will be a Pink and Blue Homecoming for Indiana State Friday evening as the Sycamores return to the Hulman Center to host Bradley in the team's annual PINK game.
 
The Sycamores, who won in their last home game, face a Bradley team that has won three straight contests away from home. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday and the game will be broadcast live on The Valley on ESPN3 while Luke Martin will have the call on the Sycamore Radio Network, available in the Wabash Valley on WIBQ 1230AM.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Just a little blip. That's what last year's loss to Bradley was, ending a 10-game winning streak over the Braves. Still, ISU has won 12 out of the last 15 games in the series and has a commanding 49-25 lead overall in the series with a 28-12 advantage in Terre Haute.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Ashli O'Neal scored 16 points and Wendi Bibbins added another 10 but Indiana State couldn't escape a tough road battle that featured 10 ties and 11 lead changes in a 59-53 loss at Northern Iowa Sunday afternoon.
 
The Sycamores (3-13, 1-4 Missouri Valley) shot the best they have from the floor as a team in conference play this season (38.9 percent) but missed their last three field goal attempts in the game while the Panthers (8-9, 4-2) hit five of six free throw attempts over the final 1:24 to secure the win.
 
Despite the misses late in the game, overall Indiana State showed improvement in its offense. The Sycamores not only posted a conference-season best 38.9 percent shooting from the floor, the 33.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc is also a best in a conference game this season.
 
LOOKING AT BRADLEY
A team of road warriors, Bradley enters Friday's game having won three straight road games in conference play this season. One of the better defensive teams in the country, Bradley is 26th nationally in defensive rebounds per game (29), 40th in field goal percentage defense (36.4) and 51st in blocked shots per game (4.6).
 
No Braves are averaging double digits in points but several are close. Bradley spreads the wealth with six players averaging 7.5 ppg or more.
 
As a team, Bradley is shooting .408 from the field and .313 from beyond the arc. Vanessa Markert is the most dangerous shooter with a .464 clip from the field while Gabi Haack is .413 from the field and .403 from 3-point land.
 
TRENDING UPWARDS
Since Josh Keister took over as the interim head coach, the offensive-minded coach has the Sycamores steadily improving. In the three games since the coaching transition, Indiana State has improved its field goal percentage and 3-point field goal percentage in every game.
 

Date	Opponent	FG%	3FG%
01/05	Evansville	.282	.160
01/12	at Drake	.360	.217
01/14	at Northern Iowa	.389	.333

 
KEISTER KARE
Since Josh Keister took over control of the program on an interim basis, he has successfully focused on taking care of the ball. Starting with ISU's Jan. 5 game against Evansville - Keister's first as interim coach - the Sycamores have only committed 37 turnovers, the fewest in any three-game span this season.
 
RETURNS ON RATIOS
Another positive turn in the direction of the program under Josh Keister is in the assist-to-turnover ratio. In two of the three games under Keister, Indiana State has yielded a positive assist-to-turnover ratio, something achieved only twice in the 13 games prior to the coaching transition.
 

Date	Opponent	A:T Ratio
01/05	Evansville	14:11
01/12	at Drake	14:13
01/14	at Northern Iowa	11:13

 
 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.