TERRE HAUTE —
Indiana State’s women’s basketball team hasn’t been overwhelmed more than once or twice by an opponent all season, losing just twice by more than 15 points.
It would be understandably concerning for Sycamore fans that one of the teams to do so was the Northern Iowa Panthers, Friday’s quarterfinals opponent in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, nicknamed “Chuck Madness.” The Sycamores and Panthers will tip off at 3:30 p.m. in The Family Arena.
Coach Tanya Warren’s squad, led by likely Jackie Stiles Award winner Jacqui Kalin, imposed its will on ISU just last weekend in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
The Sycamores, who have held MVC opponents to 39.2 percent shooting, have allowed the Panthers to average 49.5 percent in being swept in the season series.
Kalin, who scores 20.6 ppg, averaged 25 against the Sycamores.
Reversing the Panther-inflicted pains will begin with slowing down the sixth-year senior guard who has fought back from two ACL tears.
“I just have to be more aggressive as far as letting her catch the ball,” ISU sophomore Travecia Franklin said. “We’ll try to not allow them to just throw her the ball whenever, limit her touches on the ball.”
ISU was doing a decent job in the first 15 minutes of the action last weekend, building a nine-point lead as halftime neared.
“We had all our momentum going in the first half. We were up nine, gave up two Kalin 3-pointers and gave up a drive and sent them into halftime with a lot of momentum,” Moren said.
ISU avoided what would have been the first three-game losing streak of the season, fighting off a scrappy Bradley team on Saturday to earn a rematch with the Panthers, who outscored the Sycamores 49-22 in the final 20 minutes.
“The feeling after was we ripped up the stat sheet, that wasn’t us,” Moren said. “This team has played with great heart, great character, unified defense. All of those things that have made this team unique, we didn’t have. It was kind of a turning point for us.”
Resilience has been a part of this team’s character. Not letting the worst half of basketball all season linger in the minds of her teammates, ISU senior Taylor Whitley took charge.
“The next day, we’re in our prep, Taylor’s the first one to speak up. She said ‘coach, if we it had our way, we would play right now.’ We went to practice and they were terrific. You could tell they were ready to make it right.”
Added Whitley, “I think it definitely showed our character, after that tough loss. We have that [loss] in the back of our heads going into Friday. What I love about our defense is that we’re all connected, that’s why we’re so successful with it.”
Franklin, Natasha Zurek and Kasey Johnson will play key roles in ISU’s potential success this weekend, whether it means helping guard Kalin or stepping up offensively.
“We just have to stay aggressive as far as our team defense and the things they taught us in the beginning, not forgetting what got us to where we’re at,” Franklin added.
Franklin, Zurek and Johnson could also come up big offensively as the Panthers are among the teams who will dare those players to shoot by sagging onto ISU’s post players Racheal Mahan and Marina Laramie.
“They all have to be willing to shoot open jumepers,” Moren said.
• All-Conference honorees — Indiana State picked up multiple honors from the league Wednesday.
Junior Anna Munn, who scored 14.7 ppg during the regular-season, was named second-team All-MVC. Munn was seventh in the league at 14.1 ppg during league play.
Mahan was honorable-mention All-MVC, and Whitley was named to the All-Defensive team. The senior guard ranks fifth in the league, averaging 2.1 steals during 18 conference games.
Laramie, who started the last 12 games of the season and averaged 10.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, was named to the league’s All-Freshman squad.
“Obviously we represented Indiana State and we’re excited about that. All four of those young ladies would set aside any personal awards for a championship. It’s nice to be recognized but there’s still work ahead,” Moren said Tuesday shortly before leaving for St. Charles, Mo.
Indiana State vs. Northern Iowa
Tipoff — 3:37 p.m., Friday at The Family Arena, St. Charles, Mo.
Broadcasts — Radio: WPRS-AM 1440. Web: mvcsports.com.
Last time out — ISU defeated Bradley on Saturday by a score of 58-53. Northern Iowa lost 66-61 to Illinois State on Saturday.
Last meeting — UNI swept the season series, winning 74-59 last Friday in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and 54-52 in Hulman Center.
Series — ISU leads 39-23.
The players
Indiana State Sycamores (18-11, 10-8 MVC) — G Taylor Whitley (5-9, Sr., 10.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.1 apg), G Anna Munn (5-10, Jr., 14.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg), G Travecia Franklin (5-9, So., 3 ppg), F Racheal Mahan (6-1, So., 13.1 ppg, 8 rpg) and C Marina Laramie (6-2, Fr., 8.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg) are the starters. G Kasey Johnson (5-8, So., 3.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg), G Natasha Zurek (5-9, So., 3.3 ppg), G Kalliste Haskins (5-7, Fr.), F Makenzi Reasor (6-2, Fr.) and F Andrea Rademacher (6-2, Jr.) could see action.
Coach — Teri Moren (179-116 in 10th season overall, 49-43 in third season at ISU).
Northern Iowa Panthers (15-15, 10-8 MVC) — G Jacqui Kalin (5-8, Sr., 19.4 ppg, 5 rpg), G Brooke Brown (5-8, So., 4.6 ppg), F Hannah Schonhardt (6-2, Fr., 7.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg), F Amber Kirschbaum (6-0, Sr., 7.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and C Jen Keitel (6-3, Fr., 7.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg) are the possible starters. G Sharnae Lamar (5-2, So., 2.6 ppg), F Jess McDowell (6-1, Jr., 5.3 ppg), and G Brittni Donaldson (5-7, So.,6.6 ppg) are key reserves.
Coach —Tanya Warren (102-89 in sixth year at UNI)
Injuries — For ISU, G Jessica Valley (knee) is out for the season.
Next games — The winner of Friday’s quarterfinal game earns a meeting with the Wichita State or the winner of Drake and Missouri State.
— Craig Pearson
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