The Shocks (13-6, 7-0) begin a key 4-game home stand beginning Friday, Feb 1st, at 7:00 pm against Illinois State.
I think it will be very important for the Shocks to take advantage of this homestand because they finish with 5 of 7 on the road.
ILS (13-6, 5-2) ended the Shocks 7-0 start in Valley play last year defeating the Shocks 68-59 in Koch Arena, one of the Shocks 6 losses over its final 11 games in Valley regular season play.
The key for the Shockers will be controlling Illinois State's big 3:
Janae Smith, 6-2 So F, is averaging close to a double-double at 15.5 PPG and 9.1 RPG and shoots 48.4% from the field and 77.1% from the line. Smith is an Illinois girl who lead College of Charleston in scoring and rebounding as freshman two years ago and then transferred to Illinois State and sat out last year. Probably the Valley newcomer of the year and, if Illinois State wins the league, a candidate for Valley POY.
Candace Sykes, a very athletic 5-10 Sr G, averages 13.9 PPG and 5.5 RPG and is by far the Redbirds most prolific 3-point shooter taking 55% of her shots from beyond the arc and hitting 43-117 (36.8%) on the year. Alexis Foley, a 5-10 Fr G, is shooting 40.6% from 3 but on 90 fewer attempts than Sykes. Sykes was very tough on the Shocks last year.
Jamie Russell, 5-8 Sr G, averages 13.5 PPG and shoots 85% from the FT line. However, she is not much a 3-point shooter at 3-17 (17.6%). She has a non-stop motor though and has 48 steals in 19 games so she can be disruptive on the defensive side of the ball.
Keys for the Shockers:
1. Hopefully, Jaz Gordon is recovered from her concussion and is released to play after missing the last 4 games and Kelsey Jacobs ankle improves to the point she can play effectively. There availability could go along way in helping the Shocks deal with Smith.
2. I am going to assume that the primary responsibility for defending Sykes will fall upon Shocker sophomore Alex Harden who is probably the only Shocker who can match Sykes' size and athleticism. Alex needs to stay out of foul trouble.
3. Shocks don't want to get into a free throw shooting contest as ILS shoots 75.1% from the FT line as a team vs 69.6% for the Shocks.
4. The Redbirds outrebound their opponents by 5 per game. Rebounding has not exactly been a strength of this Shocker team. Again getting Jaz and Kelsey back in reasonably effective mode would be helpful here. If the Shocks can't hang with ILS on the boards than it will become imperative for them to take care of the ball and minimize turnovers.
The ILS game will probably be the toughest game of the 4 on this homestand, although you just never know for sure. I think if the Shocks can get by the Redbirds their chances of sweeping the homestand are decent.
Go Shocks.
I think it will be very important for the Shocks to take advantage of this homestand because they finish with 5 of 7 on the road.
ILS (13-6, 5-2) ended the Shocks 7-0 start in Valley play last year defeating the Shocks 68-59 in Koch Arena, one of the Shocks 6 losses over its final 11 games in Valley regular season play.
The key for the Shockers will be controlling Illinois State's big 3:
Janae Smith, 6-2 So F, is averaging close to a double-double at 15.5 PPG and 9.1 RPG and shoots 48.4% from the field and 77.1% from the line. Smith is an Illinois girl who lead College of Charleston in scoring and rebounding as freshman two years ago and then transferred to Illinois State and sat out last year. Probably the Valley newcomer of the year and, if Illinois State wins the league, a candidate for Valley POY.
Candace Sykes, a very athletic 5-10 Sr G, averages 13.9 PPG and 5.5 RPG and is by far the Redbirds most prolific 3-point shooter taking 55% of her shots from beyond the arc and hitting 43-117 (36.8%) on the year. Alexis Foley, a 5-10 Fr G, is shooting 40.6% from 3 but on 90 fewer attempts than Sykes. Sykes was very tough on the Shocks last year.
Jamie Russell, 5-8 Sr G, averages 13.5 PPG and shoots 85% from the FT line. However, she is not much a 3-point shooter at 3-17 (17.6%). She has a non-stop motor though and has 48 steals in 19 games so she can be disruptive on the defensive side of the ball.
Keys for the Shockers:
1. Hopefully, Jaz Gordon is recovered from her concussion and is released to play after missing the last 4 games and Kelsey Jacobs ankle improves to the point she can play effectively. There availability could go along way in helping the Shocks deal with Smith.
2. I am going to assume that the primary responsibility for defending Sykes will fall upon Shocker sophomore Alex Harden who is probably the only Shocker who can match Sykes' size and athleticism. Alex needs to stay out of foul trouble.
3. Shocks don't want to get into a free throw shooting contest as ILS shoots 75.1% from the FT line as a team vs 69.6% for the Shocks.
4. The Redbirds outrebound their opponents by 5 per game. Rebounding has not exactly been a strength of this Shocker team. Again getting Jaz and Kelsey back in reasonably effective mode would be helpful here. If the Shocks can't hang with ILS on the boards than it will become imperative for them to take care of the ball and minimize turnovers.
The ILS game will probably be the toughest game of the 4 on this homestand, although you just never know for sure. I think if the Shocks can get by the Redbirds their chances of sweeping the homestand are decent.
Go Shocks.
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