TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State returns to the friendly confines of Hulman Center for its next two games, starting with a Friday evening tip against Valparaiso at 6 p.m. The game will be carried on ESPN3 and 105.5 The Legend.
Gameday Sponsor and Promotions
Planet Fitness is the game sponsor for Friday's contest. For more information on our game sponsor, click
HERE.
Indiana State will have a pair of pregame presentations prior to Friday's contest.
Anna McKendree will be recognized with the team's annual Brenda Howell Spirit Award, while
Del'Janae Williams will be honored for becoming the 29th Sycamore in the 1,000-point club.
Last Time Out
Del'Janae Williams became the 29th player in program history to reach 1,000 career points, but Indiana State was unable to keep pace with Belmont in an 81-69 setback inside Curb Event Center.
Williams scored Indiana State's first nine points to reach the milestone, with a layup early in the first quarter being the basket to put her over the mark.
Chelsea Cain led the Sycamores with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Williams had 14 points and
Bella Finnegan had 13.
Both teams shot better than 50 percent from the field in the game, but turnovers loomed large for Indiana State. The Sycamores had 21 turnovers, which Belmont turned into 22 points on the other end. After trailing by double-digits in the second quarter, Indiana State got within one on multiple occasions in the third quarter but couldn't find a go-ahead bucket, as the homestanding Bruins won their eighth straight game.
Milestone Moments
This season has seen a trio of Sycamore reach career milestones, including two which happpened during Indiana State's recent road trip.
Del'Janae Williams became the 29th player to score 1,000 points at Indiana State by scoring each of the Sycamores' first nine points at Belmont.
Chelsea Cain hit 1,000 points for her collegiate career with a layup in the first quarter at Evansville. Cain scored 857 points in three seasons at Nicholls State and has 272 points for the Sycamores this year, giving her 1,129 career points.
Head coach
Chad Killinger picked up his 300th win as a collegiate head coach with Indiana State's 82-71 win over Murray State.
Home Sweet Home
Indiana State's return to Hulman Center this weekend is a welcome sign for the Sycamores, who have already bettered their home win total from last season.
Indiana State has six wins at home this season, a two-win increase from last season, with four home contests still on the schedule. The Sycamores' average attendance of 1,351 per game ranks fifth in the MVC.
Light it Up
Indiana State put up 82 points in its road win at Murray State, the Sycamores' most in a conference game this season. The Sycamores' 63.5 percent clip from the field was its best in a conference game in program history.
Indiana State has now scored 80-plus points in three MVC games since the start of last season, and has gone a perfect 3-0 in those games.
Bucket Getter
Indiana State guard
Bella Finnegan put together the best game of her young career in the Sycamores' win over Murray State. Finnegan notched career-highs of 26 points and seven rebounds against the Racers, knocking down 11 of her 16 shots from the field and all three of her 3-point attempts.
Finnegan's 26 points were the most by an Indiana State player in a game this season, and the most for a Sycamore freshman since
Caitlin Anderson had 27 against Evansville on Feb. 28, 2020.
Sharp Shooting
Indiana State shot a season-best 63.5 percent from the field against Murray State, knocking down 33 of their 52 shots in the game. The Sycamores also connected on eight of their 13 3-point attempts. Indiana State shot better than 60 percent from the field in three of the four quarters, shooting better than 70 percent in both the first and fourth.
The 63.5 percent clip from the field was Indiana State's best in a game since Nov. 18, 2006 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and it was the Sycamores' first game over 60 percent from the field since Nov. 28, 2016 at Eastern Illinois.
Six of Indiana State's seven players who took a shot finished better than 50 percent from the field, helping the Sycamores post the best shooting game by an MVC team this season.
Valparaiso at a Glance
Currently on a four-game slide, Valparaiso enters the weekend at 4-19 overall and 2-12 in conference play. The Beacons fell to Northern Iowa in their last game, 83-60.
Olivia Brown leads the team in scoring at 11.3 points per game, while Leah Earnest (10.6) and Ali Saunders (10.4) are also scoring in double-figures for the Beacons. Earnest also averages a team-high 8.0 rebounds per game, while Saunders leads Valparaiso with 58 assists.
Valparaiso is still in search of its first road conference win of the season, with the Beacons currently 0-6 on the road in MVC play. The only road win for Valpo this season came in its season opener at Central Michigan.
Head coach Mary Evans is now in her fifth season at the helm and owns a 52-87 career record. Since her arrival, Valpo has consistently been among the MVC leaders in 3-pointers.
Series History Against Valparaiso
Indiana State owns a 10-6 advantage in the all-time series following its 66-58 win in Valparaiso earlier this season. The Sycamores and Beacons have split the six previous meetings in Terre Haute.
Last Game Against Valparaiso (Jan. 7, 2023)
Indiana State overturned an early double-digit deficit, defeating Valparaiso 66-58 inside the Athletics-Recreation Center to complete a weekend MVC sweep.
Del'Janae Williams led all scorers with a season-high 25 points, while
Anna McKendree and
Chelsea Cain added nine and eight, respectively.
Alona Blackwell and
Hattie Westerfeld came off the bench to score seven points apiece for the Sycamores, who trailed by as many as 11.
Indiana State started slow but came alive for 61 points in the last three quarters, including 43 points in the second half. The Trees led for less than 10 minutes but hit timely shots when it mattered most, making 10 of their last 12 shots. McKendree put the Sycamores ahead for good with a 3-pointer from the wing midway through the fourth quarter. Indiana State's defense held Valpo to just one basket in the last five minutes to seal its second straight road win.
Up Next
Indiana State remains at home to face UIC Sunday at 1 p.m.
