The Women’s National Invitation Tournament roadblock for the Illinois State women’s basketball team is once again Kansas.
Confronting that obstruction won’t require a road trip this time as Kansas visits Redbird Arena Thursday for a 7:05 p.m. contest in the WNIT’s round of 16.
“I’d be lying if I said we weren’t really excited to be at home and play on our home court,” ISU coach Robin Pingeton said Wednesday. “I certainly think that’s huge for us, especially this time of year. But we’re going to have to bring it. They are an awfully good team.”
ISU saw a 27-8 season end in the WNIT semifinals last season with a 75-72 loss to Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse.
“It’s a chance to show some bigger name programs what we can do,” said Redbird senior Maggie Krick. “But it’s a different team and a new season.”
ISU (26-7) faces a 17-15 Kansas team that has gone 4-8 since losing senior standout Danielle McCray to a season-ending knee injury. McCray scored 31 points against the Redbirds last season and was averaging 19.8 points and 7.2 rebounds.
“McCray is one of the best, the real deal,” Pingeton said. “But they’ve got some players who have really stepped up for them. They have a tremendous inside game and they are very skilled on the perimeter.”
Without the 5-foot-11 McCray, Kansas relies on the balance of six players scoring from 10.5 to 6.8 points.
“We just need to stick together,” said 6-3 freshman Carolyn Davis, who averages 10.5 points and recently returned from two concussions. “It’s a road game and road games are hard, no matter who you’re playing.”
The Jayhawks also get 10.1 points from 5-11 guard Sade Morris, 9.6 points and 7.2 rebounds from 6-2 sophomore Aishah Sutherland and 8.7 points from 6-5 junior Krysten Boogaard.
“There’s a lot of drama involved before we even step on the court,” Kansas coach Bonnie Henrickson said of ousting ISU last season. “It’s a team that executes and plays hard. It’s a team we thought would be in the NCAA Tournament, even after getting upset in the Missouri Valley Tournament.”
The Jayhawks, who have defeated Prairie View A&M and Creighton in the WNIT, were 5-11 in a rugged Big 12 Conference that has advanced four teams to the NCAA’s Sweet Sixteen.
“We’re excited to still be playing and have another opportunity to play a program with a great tradition,” said Pingeton. “We have a lot of respect for Kansas. They play in the best conference in the country.”
Led by the senior trio of Ashleen Bracey (15.1), Krick (14.1) and Nicolle Lewis (12.1), ISU owns hard-fought WNIT victories over Butler (57-54) and Purdue (59-57).
“It definitely boosts the spirits,” Krick said. “It’s fun to win again after such a heartbreaking (MVC Tournament) loss.”
If the Redbirds win Thursday, they would meet either Illinois or Missouri State in the quarterfinals. ISU lost to Illinois in November and defeated Missouri State twice in MVC play.
WNIT rematch
Kansas at ISU
Time: 7:05 p.m.
Broadcast: WJBC-AM (1230)
Redbird essentials
Illinois State vs. Kansas
Time: 7:05 p.m.
Site: Redbird Arena, Normal
Television: None
Radio: WJBC-AM (1230)
Records: Illinois State 26-7; Kansas 17-15
Series history/last meeting: Kansas leads series, 4-0 (Kansas won, 75-72, on April 1, 2009).
About the Jayhawks: Junior forward Krysten Boogaard is averaging a modest 8.7 points but broke loose for 37 in an opening round WNIT win over Prairie View A&M … Freshman forward Carolyn Davis leads the Big 12 Conference with a .724 field goal percentage and is averaging 28.0 points and 11.5 rebounds in two WNIT outings … Kansas ranks second in the NCAA with seven different players reaching 20 points this season … The Jayhawks have lost senior Danielle McCray and redshirt freshman Angel Goodrich to season-ending knee injuries.
Next up: Winner advances to WNIT quarterfinals against either Illinois or Missouri State, TBA
Prediction: Illinois State 63, Kansas 60
Probable starters
(Scoring, rebounding averages)
ILLINOIS STATE
F — Ashleen Bracey, 6-0, Sr. (15.1, 7.8); C “Nicolle Lewis, 6-6, Sr. (12.1, 7.1); G — Maggie Krick, 5-11, Sr. (14.1, 4.8); Amanda Clifton, 5-8, Jr. (3.2, 2.5); Katie Broadway, 5-9, Soph. (7.6, 1.6).
KANSAS
F — Nicollette Smith, 6-2, Jr. (3.1, 2.4); Krysten Boogaard, 6-5, Jr. (8.7, 4.1); G — LaChelda Jacobs, 5-10, Sr. (2.3, 1.7); Sade Morris, 5-11, Sr. (10.1, 2.8); Monica Engelman, 5-11, Fr. (7.3, 2.6).