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| Missouri State Lady Bears (15-7, 10-3 MVC) at Illinois State Redbirds (18-5, 12-1 MVC) | |
| Date and Time | Sunday, February 12 | 1 p.m. CT |
| Location | CEFCU Arena | Normal, Ill. |
| Tickets | Tickets |
| Radio | KBFL 96.9 FM (Tom Ladd, Lynne Miller) | Listen Live | Varsity Network |
| TV | ESPN+ | Watch |
| Live Stats | Statbroadcast.com |
| Missouri State | Game Notes | Women’s Basketball Home Page |
| Illinois State | Women’s Basketball Home Page |
| Bears Mobile App | App Store (Apple Devices) | Google Play Store (Android Devices) |
| Up Next | Fri., Feb. 17 vs. Murray State, 6 p.m. CT | Tickets |
Starting Five – Storylines for the Illinois State Game
1) The Missouri State Lady Bears are continuing their tradition of dominance on the boards this season. MSU ranks 6th nationally and 1st in the Missouri Valley Conference with 16.5 offensive rebounds per game, while ranking 2nd in the conference and 22nd in the country in total rebound average with 42.3 per game. Missouri State also owns a +10.6 rebound margin, which is 2nd in the conference and 7th nationally.
2) According to HerHoopsStats.com, Jade Masogayo is currently the only freshman in NCAA Division I averaging at least 7.0 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game, 1.5 blocks per game and 1.5 assists per game this season. Masogayo ranks 48th nationally in blocks per game (1.6) and 51st in the country in total blocks (36), while also leading the Lady Bears with a .539 field goal percentage on the year. She is one block shy of cracking the top 10 in program history in single-season blocks.
3) Kennedy Taylor earned her third MVC Newcomer of the Week honor after becoming the first NCAA Division I player this season to post 25+ points, 15+ rebounds and six or more rebounds in a game this season, which she accomplished on Feb. 4 against UIC. Taylor continues to lead the Valley and ranks 21st nationally with 3.7 offensive rebounds per game, while also owning three 20-point games, seven double-doubles and 14 double-digit scoring performances on the season.
4) Aniya Thomas continues to do it all for the Lady Bears this season, as she leads the team with 14.2 points per game, 97 assists and 48 steals. She has logged nine games with 5+ assists this season and also leads the team with four 20-point outings and has reached double figures 18 times in 22 games on the season.
5) Missouri State is 9-0 this season when holding opponents to 60 points or less and 10-0 when scoring 70+ points. They also own a 15-2 record when collecting more assists than their opponent, meanwhile that record falls to 0-5 when their opponent has more assists.
Series History
Missouri State leads the all-time series against Illinois State, 48-35, including a 22-19 advantage on the road. The Lady Bears have lost two of the last three against the Redbirds, including the first meeting between the squads earlier this season, with MSU falling 67-63 at home on Jan. 5. Missouri State’s last win versus Illinois State came last season in Normal with MSU taking home a 75-69 victory on the road.
The Opponent
Illinois State currently sits in first place in the MVC with an 18-5 overall and 12-1 conference record and is riding an 11-game win streak. The Redbirds are led by Paige Robinson, who averages 18.7 points and shoots 46% from the field. DeAnna Wilson is the team’s leading rebounder at 7.7 boards per game while contributing 12.3 points per game. As a team, the Redbirds shoot .422 from the field, .382 from three and .739 from the charity stripe. They score 68.9 points and grab 35.3 rebounds per game.
