TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State women's basketball begins a two-game road swing Friday evening when it takes on Valparaiso inside the Athletics-Recreation Center. Tipoff between the Sycamores and Beacons is set for 7 p.m. with the game being carried on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
Fan Information
For those planning on attending this weekend's games, Valparaiso and Loyola Chicago have each announced policies related to COVID-19 for attendees.
Friday at Valparaiso
As of December 16, 2021, Valpo Athletics requires masks for all spectators and event staff - regardless of vaccination status - at basketball games at the ARC until further notice. Further information can be found
HERE.
Sunday at Loyola Chicago
Loyola Chicago Athletics has announced new health and safety COVID-19 protocols for fans attending games at Gentile Arena. The new guidelines, which are effective immediately, mirror those put in place this week by the City of Chicago.
In accordance with the city's new mitigation efforts, fans age five and older must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination at the entrance to Gentile Arena, while those age 16 and over will also need to provide identification that matches their vaccination record. Proof of vaccination is defined by the City of Chicago as a CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card or an official immunization record from the jurisdiction, state or country where the vaccine was administered, or a digital or physical photo such as a card or record, reflecting the person's name, vaccine brand, and date administered.
Gentile Arena guests age two and older are required to wear masks inside the arena at all times, except when actively eating or drinking, in accordance with current City regulations. In addition, the Loyola Chicago athletic department announced that concession services would be
suspended indefinitely.
Further information on Loyola's policies can be found
HERE.
Last Time Out
Del'Janae Williams had 21 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals Tuesday evening to lead Indiana State past visiting Evansville, 69-51, inside the Hulman Center.
Marie Hunter added 11 points for the Sycamores, who held Evansville to its lowest point total of the season. Indiana State had six different players score seven or more points in the contest. Indiana State led for the final 37:54 of the contest and gave Evansville fits throughout the game. The Sycamores forced 22 turnovers and never allowed the Purple Aces to get into a rhythm on the offensive end.
ISU limited Evansville to just two field goals in the first quarter and built a double-digit lead before a late 3-pointer before the horn. The Purple Aces cut ISU's lead to three late in the second, but that was the closest Evansville would get as Indiana State's offense came alive for 39 points in the second half. ISU used early scoring runs in both the third and fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.
A Closer Look at Valparaiso
Valparaiso enters the weekend at 5-12 overall and 3-3 in MVC play. The Beacons have won each of their last three games, including a 68-61 win over Bradley in their last game.
Caitlin Morrison led a quartet of Valpo players in double-figures against Bradley with 15 points. Leah Earnest finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the season.
Shay Frederick leads Valparaiso in scoring at 11.8 points per game and is one of three Beacons averaging double-figure scoring. Grace White leads the team in rebounding at 5.8 boards per game while also chipping in 10.5 points per contest.
Series History Against Valparaiso
Indiana State has an 8-5 lead in the all-time series against Valparaiso, though the Beacons have won each of the last three meetings. The Sycamores have won three of the four games played in Valparaiso.
Valparaiso broke open a close game by outscoring Indiana State 17-0 in the second quarter the last time these two schools met, a 61-45 win for the Beacons at the ARC. Grace Hale led all scorers with 14 for Valpo, while Addison Stoller had 13 points and nine rebounds.
Jamyra McChristine had nine points to lead ISU, while
Del'Janae Williams and
Marie Hunter led the Sycamores with six rebounds each.
Balanced Attack
Indiana State's offense doesn't necessarily have a marquee scorer, but that plays to the benefit of the Sycamores. Eight different players have led the Sycamores in scoring in a game this season, with
Del'Janae Williams having a team-high four games as the Sycamores' leading scorer.
Thievery
Indiana State's defense continues to remain among the nation's best as the Sycamores enter Friday's contest sitting in the top 15 in three team defensive categories. The Sycamores are 12th in steals per game (12.4), 14th in turnovers forced (22.60) and 15th in total steals (186). Indiana State leads the Missouri Valley in all three statistical categories.
The Sycamores have frequently disrupted opposing offenses this season, recording at least eight steals in every game this season. ISU has 13 games with 10 or more steals this season, including each of the last six games.
Defense to Offense
Indiana State has forced at least 15 turnovers in each of the first 15 games this season. Included in that number is nine games with 20 or more turnovers forced. The Sycamores have often converted those turnovers into points on the other end, as ISU has at least 20 points off turnovers in five of the last six games.
The Sycamore defense has forced 20 or more turnovers in three of its first four MVC games this season. ISU forced 30 turnovers against Drake, 20 against Bradley and 23 in its most recent game against Evansville.
Pound the Paint
Indiana State made its presence felt on the interior in their 73-57 win over Bradley. The Sycamores corralled 17 offensive rebounds and were plus-10 on the glass against the Braves (37-27). Indiana State turned those offensive rebounds into 20 second-chance points and had 46 points in the paint, its fourth game with 40-plus paint points this season. ISU is 3-1 in those four games.
As a team, Indiana State has scored at least 20 points in the paint in nine straight games, including 50 in a win over UIC in December.
Iron Woman
In addition to her career-high 22 points and 10 rebounds against Bradley, Indiana State guard
Marie Hunter also played all 40 minutes in the Sycamores' win over the Braves. It was the second time this season that Hunter played all 40 minutes of a game, as she previously went the distance against Jacksonville State.
Banner Year
The 2021-22 season has already seen multiple Indiana State players set career highs in the scoring column. Overall, five different returning Sycamores have set new career bests in scoring this season, with a trio of newcomers also posting double-digit efforts this season.
Del'Janae Williams had a career-high 26 in Indiana State's road win over Georgia Southern in one of her three 20-point games this season, as she scored 24 against Chicago State and 21 against Evansville.
Adrian Folks had a career-best 24 in a double-double at Saint Louis, while
Mya Glanton set career-high marks of 22 points and 16 rebounds against Western Michigan.
Marie Hunter (19 vs. Jacksonville State, 22 vs. Bradley) and
Natalia Lalic (13 at Georgia Southern and vs. Bradley, 20 at Drake) have also set their career highs in scoring this season. In addition, newcomers
Tonysha Curry (15 vs. UIC),
Anna McKendree (13 vs. Stephens (Mo.), 14 at Purdue Fort Wayne, 10 at Drake, 18 vs. Illinois State) and
Arianna Smith (11 at Western Kentucky, 11 vs. Bradley) have hit double-figures in scoring during their first seasons in the Blue and White.
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.
- #MarchOn -
