TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Following a break after its opening game, Indiana State returns to action Wednesday evening when it plays host to Central Michigan inside Hulman Center. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m., with the game set to be carried on ESPN+.
Last Time Out
Indiana State overcame a 14-point deficit in the final eight minutes of the fourth quarter in the season opener, rallying to defeat visiting Saint Louis 64-62 inside Hulman Center.
Anna McKendree led all scorers with 19 points, while
Del'Janae Williams added 15 and
Chelsea Cain scored 14. Indiana State scored 31 of its 64 points in the fourth quarter.
After a slow start for both teams, Saint Louis used a 22-point third quarter to build a double-digit lead. With its backs against the wall, Indiana State came out firing in the final quarter, with Cain, McKendree and Williams combining for 29 points in the final 10 minutes. The Sycamores, once down 51-37, closed the game on a 15-2 run to open the season victorious.
New Faces Fitting In
Indiana State's roster features five newcomers, and four of the five played a role in the Sycamores' season-opening 64-62 win over Saint Louis.
Chelsea Cain and
Ella Sawyer both earned starting nods in their Sycamore debuts. Cain made a huge impact in the fourth-quarter comeback and finished the game with 14 points, three rebounds and three assists. Sawyer finished the game with three points, three rebounds and three assists.
A pair of freshmen also made their debuts off the bench for the Sycamores in the season opener.
Bella Finnegan played 20 minutes, the most of any player off the bench, and finished with three points, three rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block.
Lily Niebuhr grabbed a pair of rebounds, both on the offensive end, in limited action for the Trees.
Welcome Back
Indiana State's season opener against Saint Louis was a big one for three returning Sycamores who made their return to the court after missing signficant time due to injury.
Hattie Westerfeld had two points and a team-high six rebounds in her first action since the 2020-21 season, while
Adrian Folks had three rebounds in 10 minutes in her first game since November 2021.
Sommer Pitzer also saw her first minutes since the 2020-21 season.
Comeback Kids
Indiana State rallied from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter in its season-opening win over Saint Louis, with the Sycamores overturning the deficit in the final eight minutes of the game.
The win was the largest comeback that Indiana State has overcome in head coach
Chad Killinger's tenure, surpassing the 13-point deficit Indiana State overcame at Drake last season.
Three's Company
27 of Indiana State's 31 points in the fourth quarter against Saint Louis were scored by three players –
Anna McKendree,
Del'Janae Williams and
Chelsea Cain.
Williams and Cain were quiet in the first three quarters but were lights-out in the fourth, shooting a combined 7-for-11 from the field to help the Sycamores overcome a 14-point deficit.
Central Michigan at a Glance
Central Michigan enters Wednesday's contest at 0-2 following losses to Valparaiso and Oakland to open the season. The Chippewas were picked to finish 12th in the Mid-American Coneference, as voted on by the league's head coaches.
Central Michigan, traditionally a power in the Mid-American conference in recent years, is coming off its worst season in more than 20 years. The Chippewas were 4-25 overall and 2-18 in MAC play, missing the MAC Tournament field.
Head coach Heather Oesterle is accustomed to success at Central Michigan, having reached the NCAA Tournament as recently as the 2020-21 season. Oesterle's first two seasons as head coach saw the Chippewas go 22-5 and 18-9, respectively, with one MAC regular season title and one MAC Tournament title.
Sydney Harris leads the Chippewas in scoring at 15.0 points per game, scoring in double-figures in each of the first two games this season. Anika Weekes had a double-double against Valpariaso with 10 points and 10 rebounds, but did not play in Central Michigan's most recent game at Oakland.
Series History Against Central Michigan
Indiana State and Central Michigan have previously met eight times, with each team winning four in the series. The Sycamores are 3-1 all-time in Terre Haute against CMU, though the Chippewas won the most recent meeting between the teams in Hulman Center.
Last Game Against Central Michigan (Dec. 9, 2017)
Wendi Bibbins scored 22 points and Tierra Webb added 14 for Indiana State but a rally against the preseason Mid-American Conference favorite fell short in a 77-67 loss to Central Michigan at the Hulman Center.
Central Michigan went on a 15-0 run just before halftime and the Chippewas took an 18-point lead into the intermission thanks in part to Presley Hudson's 18 points at the break, all from 3-pointers.
Indiana State battled back from a 22-point deficit and whittled Central Michigan's lead down to 69-64 late in the fourth quarter following a 3-pointer from Ty Battle before baskets on back-to-back possessions for the Chippewas put the game out of reach.
Up Next
Indiana State hits the road for the first time this season when it plays at Purdue Sunday at 2 p.m.
