Illinois State women’s basketball set to face Chicago State

Image courtesy of Illinois State women’s basketball

NORMAL, Ill. — Illinois State women’s basketball looks to get back in the win column on their home court this Wednesday against Chicago State. 

The Redbirds are coming off a disappointing away loss, 75-65, against Illinois. The Redbirds had a 9-0 scoring run in the fourth to close the deficit to just two points but were unable to finish the job.

ISU comes into the game 1-1 with an average of 76 points between the two games. Addison Martin leads the flock with 32 points on the season and six rebounds. Nevaeh Thomas had herself a night against the Fighting Illini, earning 20 points and three rebounds. Her double-digit game helped increase her field goal rate to 75%

Chicago State hopes to go to an even .500 on the season with a win against the Redbirds. The Cougars are outscored 241-166 on the season after suffering a bitter 116-58 loss to Notre Dame on Sunday. They look to make their mark against a solid ISU team after losing to the Redbirds 79-52 last season.

Aiyanna Culver is the star for the Cougars with 67 points so far on the season, 24 of them coming from three-pointers. Culver and Kace Urlacher both tally four steals on the season, both helping in the win over Winthrop University of Nov. 5.

ISU will need to come out strong defensively with Chicago State having 96 rebounds compared to the Redbirds’ 64. ISU has taken the ball away from opponents 14 times this season but the Panthers beat them in the category with 20 total steals.

The Redbirds look to fly away with the win against the Cougars at 11 a.m. this Wednesday at CEFCU Arena.

For all things Redbird women’s basketball, stay tuned at wznd.com.