Redbird women picked 8th in Valley hoops

Posted on October 25, 2016

Katrina Beck and the Illinois State women are picked to finish eighth in the Missouri Valley Conference this season. (Photo courtesy GoRedbirds.co)

By ISU Sports Information

ST. LOUIS – The Illinois State women’s basketball team has been selected to finish eighth in the 2016-17 Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Poll, it was announced Tuesday by the league prior to the start of the league’s Media Day at the St. Louis City Center Hotel.

The poll is compiled from votes by the conference’s sports information directors, media and coaches.

The Redbirds received 123 points in the poll, after finishing seventh last season when they were predicted to finish last. Drake is the favorite to win the league, as the Bulldogs collected 392 points and 34 out of a possible 40 first-place votes.

Northern Iowa is predicted to finish second with 317 points and four first-place votes, while Missouri State was picked right behind the Panthers in third place with 313 points and the final two first-place votes.

Southern Illinois (306), Wichita State (248), Indiana State (199) and Bradley (141) fill out slots four through seven. Completing the final two spots in the poll after ISU is Evansville (109) and Loyola Chicago (52).

The Redbirds lose their top three scorers from a year ago but return two starters in sophomore guards Katrina Beck and Viria Livingston. Beck averaged 5.9 points and 1.9 rebounds per game, while Livingston added 5.5 points and a team-leading 6.1 rebounds per game.

Senior guard Taylor Stewart (5.1 points, 2.8 rebounds) and sophomore forward Millie Stevens (3.2 points, 2.8 rebounds) also return and add much-needed depth. The Redbirds also welcome six newcomers, including a six-member freshman class, and will be one of the younger teams in the country.

ISU hosts Harris-Stowe in an exhibition contest at Redbird Arena on Nov. 1, at 7 p.m., before hitting the road 10 days later to Tempe, Arizona, to take on Arizona State in the season opener.

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