TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State hits the road for a trio of contests over the Thanksgiving break as the Sycamores travel to Western Kentucky and Georgia Southern this upcoming weekend. The four-day trip will feature a Wednesday contest at Western Kentucky, while Friday-Saturday Indiana State will take a part of the GATA Turkey Throwdown hosted by Georgia Southern.
The Sycamores will take on Western Kentucky on Wednesday afternoon with a noon ET tipoff in Bowling Springs, Ky. at E.A. Diddle Arena. The game will be carried live on CUSA.TV as well as 105.5 The Legend.
Through the first three games of the 2021-22 season, Indiana State has made its mark on the defensive side of the ball. The Sycamores enter the week sitting seventh overall in the NCAA in turnovers forced (26.33) and 10th in steals per game (14.0), leading the Missouri Valley in both categories. Indiana State is also +2.0 in rebound margin which is also tops in the conference.
Four separate Sycamores are listed among the national leaders in steals per game with
Anna McKendree (3.00) sitting 44th in the NCAA and leading the MVC in the category early in the 2021-22 season.
Caitlin Anderson (2.67) and
Marie Hunter (2.67) are also in the top-100 in the NCAA, while
Natalia Lalic (2.00) is ninth in the conference in the steals.
The Sycamores enter the week coming off back-to-back losses to Saint Louis and Eastern Illinois after a season-opening win over Stephens (Mo.).
Adrian Folks has been the bright spot offensively for Indiana State over the first three games and sits among the league leaders in scoring (18.3) and rebounds (6
.7) per game, while also shooting 91.7% (11-of-12) from the free throw line.
Del'Janae Williams (10.3) is also averaging double-digits scoring and has been the team's primary three-point threat with six triples on the year.
McKendree, Hunter, and Lalic have all been the playmakers with the ball in their hands this year with the trio entering the weekend tied for the team lead with 2.3 assists per game. McKendree's 10 steals lead the team, while five different players have recorded a blocked shot on the year.
About the Western Kentucky
Western Kentucky enters the Wednesday contest with a 2-3 overall record on the season after this past Sunday's 96-59 win over Kentucky State. The Hilltoppers also picked up an 86-76 win against North Carolina A&T in the first round of the Preseason WNIT to highlight their two victories on the year.
Meral Abdelgawad leads the WKU offense with 12.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game early in the 2021-22 season. The senior guard also leads the team with 16 overall steals and is second on the team with 12 assists through the first five games. Mya Meredith is also in double-digits for WKU with 10.6 points per game, while Macey Blevins is the team's primary three-point threat with 12 conversions on the year.
Defensively, Teresa Faustino is second on the team with 14 steals overall, while Selma Kulo has posted five of the Hilltoppers' 13 blocked shots.
Series Review – Western Kentucky
The Indiana State – Western Kentucky series dates back to 1977 and Wednesday's contest marks the first time the two teams have taken the court against each other since 1990. Three of the four contests have taken place in Bowling Green, Ky., including the inaugural contest and lone Sycamore win in the series back on January 8, 1977, when ISU topped WKU, 80-69. Since then, Western Kentucky has won three in a row, including the last contest back on December 4, 1990, 86-71.
First-Time Opponents/Non-Conference Schedule
Indiana State's 2021-22 non-conference schedule will feature an even blend of familiar faces and newcomers to the floor this season as the Sycamores will face-off against five first-time opponents, while also taking on six familiar foes this year. Indiana State boasts an overall winning record (56-36) record against their non-conference slate this year with their longest running rivalry coming against Eastern Illinois (38-24). ISU also boasts an all-time winning record against five of the six familiar teams on the non-conference schedule including a win in their lone contest against Nebraska back in 1994.
Out of the five newcomers on the 2021-22 schedule include home games against the home opener against Stephens (Mo.) and the December 14 contest against Illinois Chicago. The Sycamores will travel to IPFW on December 20 in their final game prior to the holiday break, while ISU will take on both Jacksonville State and Georgia Southern in the GATA Turkey Showdown held over Thanksgiving Break in Statesboro, Ga.
Additional home games for the Sycamores this season include a November 17 home date against Eastern Illinois, December 4 against Western Michigan, and December 14 against Illinois Chicago. The Sycamores head to Saint Louis (Nov. 14), Western Kentucky (Nov. 24), Chicago State (Dec. 1), and Nebraska (Dec. 11) to wrap up the non-conference portion of the schedule.
Preseason Poll
Indiana State was selected ninth overall in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason women's basketball poll as announced by the conference office on Tuesday morning. The Sycamores received 102 total points in the poll as voted on by the conference's coaches, sports information directors, and media.
The Sycamores return four starters from last season's team that finished 5-15 overall with a 2-12 mark in MVC play.
Sommer Pitzer,
Caitlin Anderson,
Marie Hunter, and
Adrian Folks return to account for 83.6% of the starting five scoring output on the year, while nine returners overall highlight the roster coming into the 2021-22 season.
Missouri State was tabbed as the preseason favorite in the MVC with the Bears receiving 362 points and 35 first-place votes. Drake (two first-place, 316 points) and Northern Iowa (three first-place, 298 points) round out the top-three in poll.
Follow the Sycamores
For the latest information on Sycamore Women's Basketball, visit
GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media, including
Twitter,
Facebook,
Instagram and
YouTube. Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from the both the
App Store and the
Google Play Store.
