Sycamores close two-game homestand against Chicago State

By Press release submission

Dec 7, 2022

Indiana State plays its second home game in a four-day span Tuesday evening when it welcomes Chicago State to Hulman Center for a 6 p.m. tip. The game will be carried on ESPN+.

Indiana State Women's Basketball vs. Chicago State

Date Tuesday, November 29 | 6 p.m. ET

Location // Venue Terre Haute, Ind. // Hulman Center (9,000)

Game Notes Indiana State Notes // Chicago State Notes

Live Stats Live Stat Feed

Watch ESPN+

Tickets Tickets Starting at $6

Social Media @IndStWBB // @IndStAthletics

Last Time Out

Bella Finnegan led Indiana State with 10 points Saturday afternoon, but four Ohio players in double-figures paced the Bobcats to a 74-62 win over the Sycamores inside Hulman Center.

Ella Sawyer had nine points off the bench, while Chelsea Cain and Anna McKendree had eight apiece with Natalia Lalic and Mya Glanton each adding seven. McKendree also had eight rebounds and five assists.

After a high-octane opening quarter, Indiana State struggled to get in a rhythm as Ohio State led for the entirety of the last 30 minutes. The Sycamores got within one early in the third quarter following a McKendree 3-pointer, but an efficient second half from the visitors gave the Sycamores their second straight loss.

Taking Advantage

Indiana State has found a tendency to create opportunities off its opponents' mistakes, as the Sycamores are averaging 24.8 points off turnovers per game. The Sycamores have scored at least 20 points off turnovers in each of the last three games, including a season-high 36 against Central Michigan.

Indiana State's turnover margin this season has been plus-4.25 per game, a mark that tops the MVC. The Sycamores are second in the MVC in turnovers forced and have the third fewest turnovers per game.

Doing it All

Indiana State guard Anna McKendree leads the Sycamores in points (13.7) rebounds (5.3) and assists (3.3) per game this season, with her scoring and rebounding averages both being more than double her average output during the 2021-22 season.

McKendree is currently the only player in the Missouri Valley Conference to lead her team in points, rebounds and assists per game.

Extra Possessions

Indiana State has continued its trend from last season of being a strong offensive rebounding team, as the Sycamores have grabbed double-digit offensive rebounds in three of the first four games this season. The Trees rank third in offensive rebounding in the conference, grabbing 13.3 per game, with a season high of 20 against Saint Louis. Indiana State has converted those extra possessions to the tune of 11.8 second chance points per game.

The offensive rebounding for the Sycamores has been a collective effort, as nine different players have at least two offensive rebounds for Indiana State this season. Forwards Mya Glanton (11), Hattie Westerfeld (seven) and Chelsea Cain (five) all have at least five offensive rebounds.

Chicago State at a Glance

Chicago State enters the weekend at 0-7 overall following an 83-32 loss to Colorado at home Sunday afternoon. The Cougars' seven losses have come by an average of 28.4 points.

Chicago State won four games last season, including a road win over Wisconsin. The Cougars have a new head coach this season, though, after Tiffany Sardin left to take a job on Rebecca Tillett's staff at Saint Louis. Andrea Williams is the new head coach at CSU after spending the last three seasons at Fort Valley State. Williams does have previous Division I head coaching experience, having previously spent five seasons at the helm of Air Force

Janiah Newell and Tae'lor Willard are both averaging double-figure scoring for CSU at 13.3 and 12.0 points per game, respectively.

Chicago State is in its first season as an independent after previously being a part of the Western Athletic Conference. With its independent status, scheduling is a challenge, as 18 of the Cougars' 27 games this season come before New Year's Day.

Series History Against Chicago State

Indiana State has won all five previous meetings against Chicago State, including last year's game between the teams in buzzer-beating fashion. The Sycamores are 2-0 in Terre Haute against the Cougars, winning those contests by an average of 33 points.

Last Game Against Chicago State (Dec. 1, 2021)

Mya Glanton rebounded her own missed shot and put the ball in the basket as the buzzer sounded to help lead Indiana State past host Chicago State in the Jones Convocation Center, 59-58.

Del'Janae Williams led all players with a game-high 24 points, while also adding seven steals. Glanton and Marie Hunter had nine points apiece.

The Sycamores led for just 3:04 in the contest and led just once since the 7:15 mark in the first quarter, but 23 Chicago State turnovers, which Indiana State converted into 25 points on the other end, allowed the Sycamores to stay within striking distance throughout. ISU also had 12 second-chance points off 10 offensive rebounds.