TERRE HAUTE — With two victories under their belt — both occurring far away from the friendly confines of Hulman Center — to begin the season, one might say the Indiana State women’s basketball team is off to a hot start.
And they would be right.
With wins at Kansas State (77-73) and at Furman (62-47), the Sycamores are off to a 2-0 start for just the third time in the past 11 seasons.
The key to this season’s 2-0 record is a hot start in both games.
ISU surged to a 35-21 halftime lead at Kansas State, then withstood a furious rally down the stretch to earn a four-point victory. Just two days ago at Furman, the Sycamores did even better, opening a 34-18 lead by intermission.
ISU senior guard Kelsey Luna is responsible for much of the Sycamores early season success.
Luna was a scoring machine in the K-State win. A career-high 37 points sent her soaring past the 1,000-point barrier for a career. Luna was a stat-sheet stuffer vs. Furman, with 17 points, eight rebounds, eight steals and six assists.
“Kelsey continues to amaze us every day,” ISU coach Jim Wiedie said after the Furman game. “She’s a great playmaker and a great shooter, but then she gets it done on the defensive side too. Defense was her forte in high school, and when you get that type of balanced performance from her, what more could we ask for?”
While Luna has shined brightly, she is receiving solid support from her teammates.
Sophomore guard Deja Mattox tallied 14 points, including three 3-pointers to equal a career high. Sophomore center Shannon Thomas added 11 points and seven rebounds vs. Furman. Thomas also blocked four shots for the second game in a row.
The two victories also enabled Wiedie to become the winningest coach in ISU women’s basketball history. Wiedie now has a 157-108 record early in his 10th season.
• Next opponent new to Division I — South Carolina-Upstate is a new opponent for the Sycamores, just starting its third season in its second stint at the NCAA Division I level.
Current Upstate coach Tammy George came on the scene in 2005-06, inheriting a program that hadn’t had a winning season in seven years. All she did in her first year was snap that streak and the Spartans qualified for the NCAA Division II Tournament.
Two years later, Upstate returned to the Division I level. After a rough 5-24 season two seasons ago, George guided them to a much-improved 11-17 last year. Prior to coming to Upstate, George directed Brevard to the NAIA Tournament.
This season, SC-Upstate is 2-1 but found out how tough it is at the upper echelons of Division I on Wednesday. Upstate was thumped 110-63 at No. 12-ranked University of Virginia.
Leading the Spartans is 6-0 junior forward Chelsea McMillan, averaging a double-double at 13.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. Also averaging 13.7 ppg is 5-4 senior guard Courtney Hawkins.
• Indiana connection — Lauren McRoberts, a 6-1 freshman, is the only player from Indiana listed on the SC-Upstate roster. She was a member of the 2008 girls state championship team at Carmel High School.
If that last name sounds familiar, she is the cousin of former Carmel, Duke University and current Indiana Pacers player Josh McRoberts.
Lauren is averaging five points and four rebounds coming off the bench for the Spartans in their three games.
ISU at USC-U
Tipoff — 3 p.m. today at G.B. Hodge Center, Spartanburg, S.C.
Broadcasts — TV: None. Radio: WSDM-FM 92.7. Internet: gosycamores.com
Last time out — ISU won 62-47 at Furman on Thursday. SC-Upstate was thumped 110-63 at No. 12-ranked Virginia on Wednesday.
Series — First meeting.
The players
Indiana State Sycamores (2-0) — G Kelsey Luna (5-5, Sr., 27.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.5 apg, 4.5 spg), G Brittany Schoen (5-6, So., 2.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg), G Deja Mattox (6-0, So., 12.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg), F Kelsie Cooley (6-1, Jr., 7.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg), C Shannon Thomas (6-4, So., 9.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 4.0 bpg) are probable starters. G Taylor Whitley (5-9, Fr., 5.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.5 spg), G/F Chelsea Buher (6-0, So., 4.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg) will come off the bench.
Coach — Jim Wiedie (157-108 in 10th season at ISU)
South Carolina-Upstate Spartans (2-1) — G Courtney Hawkins (5-4, Sr., 13.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg), F Chelsea McMillan (6-0, Jr., 13.7 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 1.6 bpg), G Kendra Wallace (5-9, So., 8.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg), G Koko Richardson (5-8, Sr., 7.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg), G Lesley Daniel (5-5, So., 4.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 3.3 apg) are probable starters. G Tee ‘Ara Copney (5-7, Fr., 8.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg), G Sharniece Wadelington (5-7, Jr., 5.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg), F Lauren McRoberts (6-1, Fr., 5.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg) will come off the bench.
Coach — Tammy George (47-66 in 4th year, 90-94 in 7th overall)
Injuries — For ISU, C Andrea Rademacher (foot) is out; Megan Burton (concussion symptoms) DNP on Thursday; and Meaghan MacDougall (leg) is out.
Keys to the game
n Quick starts have helped Indiana State in their first two games, but the Sycamores need to sustain that momentum in the second half. In their opener, ISU outscored Kansas State 35-21 in the first half, then were outscored 52-42 in the second half. Against Furman, ISU won the first half 34-18, then were nipped 29-28 in the second half.
n Defense has been key in the opening two wins, especially against Furman. ISU limited the Paladins to just 26.3 percent field goal accuracy (20.7 percent in the first half).
Tidbit — Indiana State played before 4,045 fans at Kansas State in the season opening victory, but the “crowd” was just 332 in their win at Furman on Thursday.
Next game — ISU hosts Southeast Missouri State at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. SC-Upstate travels to South Carolina State the same night.
— Dennis Clark
College
Indiana State women continue coastal road swing
USC-U in third season at Division I
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ISU women looking to end five-game losing streak at Illinois State
Within a few points in the final minutes, Indiana State had chances to win women’s basketball games at Missouri State and Wichita State last weekend.
But the Sycamores lost for the fourth and fifth straight games, also losing freshman Jessica Valley for the season at Wichita State. The promising backcourt player tore the ACL in her right knee and began strengthening exercises this week in order to make plans for surgery. -
ISU Senior Day game to be televised on ESPN
The Missouri Valley Conference announced Thursday that Indiana State’s regular season finale against No. 12-ranked Creighton on Feb. 25 in Hulman Center has been chosen as the MVC’s “wild card” game that will be telecast on either ESPN or ESPN2.
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Hoosiers load up on in-state players
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It’s on: Sycamores, Bulldogs to play at Hinkle on Feb. 18
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METRO ROUNDUP: Four from Rose receive weekly honors
Four Rose-Hulman athletes earned Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference weekly honors, the HCAC announced Monday.
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Hoosiers reclaim needed offensive momentum
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Sycamores will have to match Aces’ toughness
Indiana State men’s basketball coach Greg Lansing has an enduring respect for the toughness Evansville coach Marty Simmons coaxes out of his Purple Aces.
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WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Rose, The Woods post weekend victories
Rose-Hulman relied on a balanced scoring attack and a strong defensive effort to earn a 55-44 women’s basketball victory Saturday over Mount St. Joseph.
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ISU's Stacia Weatherford sets school record in 60-meter hurdles
Indiana State junior Stacia Weatherford set the school record in the women’s 60-meter hurdles, while sophomore Greggmar Swift dominated the action in the men’s 60 hurdles during competition Saturday at the Indiana Relays.
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Rose takes first in Engineer Track and Field Invitational
Rose-Hulman relied on nine event victories, 13 top-two finishes and three school records for a strong performance at the ninth annual Engineer Track and Field Invitational on Saturday.
The men’s squad captured first place honors in a meet that featured two of the nation's top 20 NCAA Division III squads and 12 institutions from seven states. The day’s competition also included 10 meet records. -
Mattox’s 31 not enough for ISU women
Indiana State pulled within 63-57 with a 6-0 run with 8 minutes, 50 seconds remaining Friday night at JQH Arena, but the Sycamores lost 84-70 to host Missouri State in a Missouri Valley Conference women's basketball game.
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Mattox, Sycamores staying positive on road trip to Missouri State, Wichita State
Indiana State seniors Brittany Schoen and Deja Mattox are within striking distance of passing 1,000 points in their women’s basketball careers, and they would join classmate Shannon Thomas in that club. Schoen needs just 16 points, while Mattox is 89 points away.
But Mattox has been on a roll of late, scoring a team-high 15.1 points through ISU’s 4-3 start to Missouri Valley Conference play. -
IU triumphs
When Indiana’s Will Sheehey left the floor after receiving his second technical foul, the Hoosier fans cheered.
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ISU women nipped at buzzer
Creighton sophomore Carli Tritz — blanketed by Indiana State senior Brittany Schoen — had just two points at halftime Friday in Hulman Center.
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ISU needs to find chip on its shoulder
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ISU women look to reverse recent trend vs. Creighton
The Creighton women’s basketball team has won three of their last four games in Hulman Center. While the Bluejays have been one of the winningest programs in the Missouri Valley Conference — with at least 12 league wins in seven of the last nine seasons — the Bluejays’ success in Terre Haute would need to end if the Sycamores want to show that their 4-1 start to league play is not a fluke.
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Hoosiers, Buckeyes meet after suffering upsets
Ohio State standout Jared Sullinger blames himself for the fifth-ranked Buckeyes’ most recent loss.
“There were times in the Illinois game where I just kind of took a break on the defensive end instead of the offensive end and it cost us,” Sullinger said, referring to a 79-74 setback on Tuesday. -
Rose drops pair to Transylvania
Transylvania withstood a second half charge by Rose-Hulman to earn a 60-46 men’s basketball victory in a battle of Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference co-leaders Saturday.
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Bradley shoots down ISU women
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Defense fails ISU again in loss at Southern Illinois
Defense wins championships. So what does lack of defense do?
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ISU women pick up big road win against defending champion Northern Iowa
Brittany Schoen hit a 3-pointer to begin the second half that put Indiana State ahead 36-25. The senior’s shot and ISU’s stingy defense helped the Sycamores pull ahead by as many as 16 in the second half on the way to a 68-62 triumph at Northern Iowa.
Indiana State moved into a tie for first place with a 4-0 record. -
Grueling stretch of MVC schedule continues at SIU
It’s a stretch of the Missouri Valley Conference schedule Allen Iverson would love.
Indiana State’s men’s basketball team travels to Southern Illinois tonight for a rare Friday night game. It is the second of three games ISU — and the rest of the MVC teams — will play in a six-day span.
Included is a Friday-Sunday swing for each league school. All teams will play one home and one road game in those three days. -
IU suffers first loss this season in Assembly Hall
So much for Indiana’s perfect record at Assembly Hall.
Minnesota held off a late rally by the seventh-ranked Hoosiers to win 77-74 on Thursday night, the Golden Gophers’ first win in the Big Ten this season and the first time since 1985 that Minnesota defeated a ranked college basketball team on the road. -
Ivy Tech to host ‘Faces in the Crowd’ political exhibit
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Theatrical group to perform ‘Bachelor of Death’ murder mystery
Indiana State University will host the Random Acts Murder Mystery/Student Leader Dinner on Feb. 3 at Hulman Memorial Student Union Dede I.
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Yeargin, Odum fight ailment as a pair
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Evansville will test ISU’s toughness
Indiana State’s fall-from-ahead 69-63 loss to Missouri State on Saturday exposed several problems on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor, but the root cause can be traced back to the lack of a important quality.
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Missouri State takes game from Indiana State in second half
Hulman Center is no longer impregnable. Missouri State’s men’s basketball team stormed the Indiana State parapets in the second half and the Sycamores offered little resistance until it was too late.
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Rose wins twinbill
Playing an afternoon doubleheader inside Hulbert Arena, the Rose women routed Mount St. Joseph 71-40 to post their largest margin of victory since the 2006-07 season when the female Engineers defeated St. Mary-of-the-Woods by 41.
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