By ISU Sports Information
ST. LOUIS – The Illinois State women’s basketball team learned of its 18-game Missouri Valley Conference schedule, it was announced Tuesday by the league. Start times are still to be determined and games will be played Fridays and Sundays.
“I am so excited that we’re talking about the schedule, because that means the season is right around the corner,” head coach Barb Smith said. “I think our conference is very strong and will be very competitive this season. I think the Valley has great coaches who are dedicated to the student-athlete on and off the court.”
The Redbirds open conference play New Year’s Day when they welcome Bradley to Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena for the annual I-74 Rivalry series, which will be the program’s ninth-straight year they open the Valley season at home. ISU then hits the road for contests at Loyola (Jan. 6) and at Indiana State (Jan. 8).
The following weekend the Redbirds return home to host Northern Iowa (Jan. 13) and Drake (Jan. 15), before making two of the longer trips in the league by traveling to Missouri State (Jan. 20) and Wichita State (Jan. 22).
January ends and February begins with a four-game homestand at Redbird Arena. ISU first plays Evansville (Jan. 27) and Southern Illinois (Jan. 29), which concludes the first half of the conference schedule, before playing its return games against Indiana State (Feb. 3) and Loyola (Feb. 5).
The Redbirds return to the road the following weekend to play both Iowa schools. ISU travels to Drake (Feb. 10) first, followed by UNI (Feb. 12).
The home portion of the schedule concludes when Wichita State (Feb. 17) and Missouri State (Feb. 19) visit Redbird Arena. The contest with the Bears will be Senior Day for seniors Brechelle Beachum and Taylor Stewart.
The Redbirds conclude the regular season with three-consecutive road tilts. ISU ends February at SIU (Feb. 24) and Evansville (Feb. 26), while the return game in the I-74 Rivalry series is slated for Saturday, March 4, at Bradley.
For the second-consecutive season, the MVC Tournament will be held in Moline, Illinois, inside the iWireless Center, March 9-12.
With the 11-game nonconference schedule, the Redbirds are scheduled to play 29 games in the regular season, with 15 coming at home and 14 being true road contests. For season ticket information, please contact the Redbird Arena Ticket Office at (309) 438-8000, or visit GoRedbirds.com.
