MACOMB, Ill. – A trip to Macomb, Ill., is up next for Sycamore women's basketball, as the Trees will face former Gateway Conference foe Western Illinois on Thursday evening.
 
Indiana State (1-1) at Western Illinois (2-1)
November 14, 2019
Where: Macomb, Ill.
Arena: LeRoy A. Ufkes Court at Western Hall
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Stream: N/A
Radio: 97.9 FM WIBQ [John Sherman]
Live Stats: https://goleathernecks.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
Series: Indiana State leads, 23-9
 
INDIANA STATE GAME NOTES | MVC NOTES
 
NOTES

• The Series: Thursday marks the 32nd meeting between the Sycamores and Leathernecks in a series that the Sycamores lead, 23-9. Thursday's game will mark the first meeting between the teams since 2003, a game that WIU won, 75-67.
• It Starts with Defense: The Sycamores made things difficult for Kansas in their season debut on Thursday, forcing the Jayhawks into 17 turnovers and coming up with 13 steals. They followed the performance with 10 steals at EIU while also forcing the Panthers into a total of 12 turnovers. Freshman Sommer Pitzer is averaging three steals a game, currently tied for first in the Valley.
• A Balanced Attack: During the first week of play, Indiana State used a balanced scoring attack on the offensive side of the ball. Against Kansas, every Sycamore who touched the floor managed to score and five Trees scored at least seven points, led by Marie Hunter with 18. Then at Eastern Illinois, six Sycamores scored five or more points, led by freshman Sommer Pitzer with 13.
• Making Adjustments: Junior LeAndra Echi has made the adjustment from JUCO to Division I look easy in her first two games as a Sycamore. The standout transfer has managed to slice through defenses, recording 11 points, five rebounds and two assists in 20 minutes of action at Kansas. The following Sunday, Echi earned her first double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds against EIU to lead the blue and white to their first win of the year.
• Road Warriors: The Sycamores will have to be road warriors to start off the 2019-20 season as Hulman Center is under renovation. Because of those renovations, ISU will spend nearly its first month of the year and seven-straight games on the road before finally returning home to host Marshall in the Hulman Center on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
• About the Leathernecks: Western Illinois returns 12 players from the 2018-19 season, including four starters. This season, WIU is 2-1 and shoots a blistering 43.5% from beyond the three-point line. Western averages over 12 triples per-game, but they are more than just an offensive team, as they force over 18 turnovers each game as well.

 
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.