By Dennis Clark
TERRE HAUTE — The Indiana State women’s basketball team is seeking its fifth consecutive victory to start a season for just the second time in school history when they welcome Central Michigan to Hulman Center for a 2 p.m. tip-off today.
With a win today, it would be the first time ISU has been 5-0 to begin a season since the 1973-74 edition coached by Edie Godleski won its first 10 games. The Sycamores have won four straight three other times (1975-76, 1976-77, 1998-99), but failed to win a fifth straight game each time.
“I’m pleased with where we’re at,” ISU coach Jim Wiedie said prior to practice on Saturday morning. “I think there’s some things obviously we can get a little bit better at … but I think the opening win at [Kansas] State kind of set the tone for the games to follow.”
Indeed, the Sycamores followed with road wins in South Carolina vs. Furman and SC-Upstate. ISU throttled Southeast Missouri State 72-28 most recently in its home opener Tuesday.
“We’ve been a little inconsistent with our defense when we were on the road in South Carolina,” Wiedie stated. “Turned the ball over a little bit more than we would like.
“But bounced back and I thought we played pretty well against Southeast Missouri [State]. Cleaned some of the things up that we didn’t a good job of when we were on the road.”
Senior guard Kelsey Luna has been a human highlight reel for the Sycamores in their first four games, averaging 25.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.5 steals per game. But while eluding defenders with ease, she has not eluded the injury bug — but is expected to play today.
“Luna has sat out these last three days and will sit out [Saturday] with a shoulder injury she sustained against SEMO,” Wiedie noted. “We don’t think it’s anything major, but we figure the rest will be good for her since it’s her shooting arm. She’s going to take some shots [Saturday]. We’ll see how she responds [today].”
Sophomore center Shannon Thomas had 13 points and eight rebounds vs. SEMO, almost identical to her season averages. Sophomore Deja Mattox is averaging 10.3 ppg, while sophomore Brittany Schoen tallied 10 points on Tuesday.
“We need to get a few more in the mix,” Wiedie noted.
In addition to Luna, sophomore Chelsea Buher has been hampered off-and-on with a disk problem in her lower back. “She’ll play today,” Wiedie said. “But we’ve sat her this whole week as well.”
n Chippewas in town today — Looking at the stat sheet for Central Michigan, one might think it will be an easy time for the Sycamores. After all, the Chippewas are 0-4, shoot under 35 percent from the field and are being out-rebounded by 10 boards per game.
Only one CMU player, senior Brittani Houghton, is shooting at over 40 percent (.476, while averaging 14.8 ppg). Only two CMU players, junior Kaiha Szunko (47) and Houghton (25), are in double figures rebounding through four games.
But stats can be deceiving, Wiedie warned.
“Central [Michigan] has a lot of speed on the perimeter … three guards in particular that can put the ball on the floor and attack off the dribble.,” Wiedie said. “They kind of spread the floor, they like to do a lot of dribble-drive.
“Our man-to-man hasn’t been the best. We’ve struggled a little a bit against dribble-penetration, so this team is going to pose a big problem from that standpoint.
“They shoot early, they shoot often. Shot clock violation is not going to be a problem for them. Their percentages are not necessarily that good, but they take a lot of shots. On the flip side, they haven’t been getting a ton of rebounds. The teams that have been successful against them, in particular DePaul and Illinois, dominated them on the boards.”
How will ISU counter this style of play from the Chippewas?
“If we can do a better job guarding off the dribble, win the battle of the boards and establish our inside game, that can be a formula for success for us,” Wiede said.
ISU concludes a two-game homestand vs. Detroit at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
CMU at ISU
Tipoff — 2 p.m. today at Hulman Center.
Broadcasts — Radio: WBOW-AM 1300, WSDX-AM 1130. Live stats: gosycamores.com
Last time out — Indiana State throttled Southeast Missouri State 72-28 at Hulman Center on Tuesday. Central Michigan dropped a 94-69 home decision vs. Georgetown on Wednesday.
Series — Central Michigan leads 3-2.
The players
Indiana State Sycamores (4-0) — G Kelsey Luna (5-5, Sr., 25.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.3 apg, 3.5 spg), G Brittany Schoen (5-6, So., 4.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.5 apg), G Deja Mattox (6-0, So., 10.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg), F Kelsie Cooley (6-1, Jr., 7.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg), C Shannon Thomas (6-4, So., 12.5 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 3.5 bpg) are probable starters. G Taylor Whitley (5-9, Fr., 5.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg), F Moriah Hodge (6-2, Fr., 1.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg), G/F Chelsea Buher (6-0, So., 3.0 ppg, 1.3 rpg) are contributors off the bench.
Coach — Jim Wiedie (159-108 in 10th season at ISU)
Central Michigan Chippewas (0-4) — G Shonda Long (5-9, Jr., 15.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg), F Britni Houghton (5-11, Sr., 14.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.0 apg), F Kaiha Szunko (6-1, Jr., 6.0 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 2.3 spg), G Heidi Warczinsky (5-7, Sr., 4.8 ppg, 1.3 rpg), F Skylar Miller (5-10, So., 3.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg) are probable starters. G Jalissa Olive (5-4, Fr., 8.5 ppg, 0.8 rpg), G Kendra Holman (5-4, Sr., 6.8 ppg, 0.8 rpg), F Stefanie Mauk (5-10, Fr., 4.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg) are contributors off the bench.
Coach — Sue Guevara (24-41 in 3rd year at CMU, 147-123 in 10th overall)
Injuries — For ISU, G Kelsey Luna (shoulder) and G/F Chelsea Buher (back) are probable. C Andrea Rademacher (foot) and Meaghan MacDougall (calf) are out for the season.
Keys to the game
• A fast start offensively could be the biggest key. ISU has done that in its first four games, all wins. CMU has been outscored 172-124 in the first half in its first four games, all losses.
• Shooting and rebounding. CMU is shooting just 35 percent from the field and been outrebounded by 10 boards per game.
Tidbit — CMU nipped ISU 84-83 in last year’s regular season opener at Mount Pleasant, Mich., on Nov. 15, 2008. This year might not be so close if RPI ratings mean anything at all. ISU has a RPI ranking of 56, while CMU is at 292.
Next game — ISU hosts Detroit at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
— Dennis Clark
