ISU women’s basketball releases non-conference slate

Posted on August 3, 2017
First-year coach Kristen Gillespie will guide Illinois State women’s basketball through a non-conference schedule that includes two NCAA tournament participants from last season. (Lewis University photo)

By WJBC Staff

NORMAL – The Illinois State women’s basketball team is slated to play an 11-game nonconference schedule, head coach Kristen Gillespie announced Thursday.

The Redbirds will play six games on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena, four road contests and one neutral-site matchup. Two opponents played in the NCAA Tournament and one other participated in the Women’s Basketball Invitational. Overall, Illinois State is set to play four teams from the Horizon League, potentially two from the Western Athletic Conference, and one each from the Atlantic 10, Ohio Valley, Big East, Mid-American, Big West and Colonial Athletic Association.

“I think our nonconference schedule will be an excellent test for us,” Gillespie said. “It will certainly be challenging. I really like that all of our road games are against quality opponents from across the country. I also can’t wait to see our fans come out to Redbird Arena and support us as we take strides to build this program. Our hope is that playing this type of schedule will prepare us for Missouri Valley Conference play and allow us to grow every time we step onto the court.”

The Redbirds open the season Saturday, Nov. 11, at Oakland (18-12, 12-6 Horizon) in Rochester, Michigan, before returning to Redbird Arena Wednesday, Nov. 15, to host Northern Kentucky (9-22, 5-13 Horizon).

After a week off, Illinois State will travel to Northern Virginia to take on George Mason (13-17, 6-10 A10) in Fairfax, Virginia, Wednesday, Nov. 22, the day before Thanksgiving. The holiday weekend is set to conclude with a home tilt Sunday, Nov. 26, against UMKC (10-19, 4-10 WAC), which starts a three-game homestand.

The month of November ends Thursday the 30th with a home matchup versus SIUE (14-17, 9-7 OVC), before the homestand wraps up Sunday, Dec. 3, against Butler (6-25, 2-16 BIG EAST).

Four days later (Thursday, Dec. 7), the Redbirds hit the road to Wisconsin to take on Milwaukee (22-12, 11-7 Horizon), who won two games in the 2017 WBI. Illinois State then travels back home to play Eastern Michigan (6-25, 1-17 MAC) Sunday, Dec. 10.

The Redbirds return to the court after a week of final exams to host Cleveland State (14-16, 9-9 Horizon) Sunday, Dec. 17, in the final nonconference home contest.

Illinois State will conclude the nonconference portion of the schedule with a trip to Southern California to play in Long Beach State’s Beach Classic, Dec. 20-21, in Long Beach, California, as the Redbirds are scheduled to play Long Beach State (23-11, 12-4 Big West) on the first day. The 49ers were a No. 15 seed in the 2017 NCAA Tournament and lost by one point at No. 2 seed Oregon State.

In the final day of the event, Illinois State will face either New Mexico State (24-7, 14-0 WAC) or Northeastern (12-19, 8-10 CAA). The Lobos were also a No. 15 seed in the NCAA Tournament and lost to eventual Final Four participant Stanford, a No. 2 seed as well, by eight points in Manhattan, Kansas.

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