ISU women seek to end slide; Titans at home on WJBC tonight

Posted on December 16, 2014

Barb Smith's Illinois State women's basketball team seeks its first win of the season tonight against Arizona State. (WJBC file photo)

By Bryan Bloodworth

NORMAL – Illinois State’s women’s basketball coach Barb Smith said her team is staying the course despite losing its first seven games of the season.

“Every single day we’re trying to get better than we were the day before and there has already been growth on our basketball team,” Smith said during her news conference Monday.

The Redbirds, who are looking to avert a school-record eighth straight loss to begin the season, face a tough task tonight when it meets Pac 12 member Arizona State at 7 o’clock at Redbird Arena.

Coverage begins at 7 on WJBC 1230 AM and WJBC.com with Zach Dietmeier handling the play-by-play.

Arizona State has a 7-1 record and has qualified for the NCAA Tournament the last two years. A year ago, the Sun Devils were 23-10.

“This team runs,” said Smith. “They run. They push and they play a tough, hard-nosed in-your-face pressure defense. This is going to be a great opportunity for us because every single game we have to get better helps us.

“We’ve had some limitations with our numbers (because of injuries and suspensions), but we are fighting. Our team is together more than they’ve ever been. I think we’re heading in the right direction right now.”

Smith said Mary Sims’ suspension is over and she has returned to practice, but won’t play tonight. Smith also said Kalyn Gebhardt and Lindsay Smith are still out with injuries. Smith could return as soon as Dec. 22 against Butler.

Also tonight on your computer or smart phone at wjbc.com, Illinois Wesleyan’s men’s team looks to bounce back from a loss at Washington University tonight at 7 when it meets Loras at the Shirk Center.

Bryan Bloodworth can be reached at [email protected]
 

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