Illinois (0-0, 0-0 B1G) vs. Indiana State (0-0, 0-0 MVC)
When	Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020 | 7 p.m. CT
Where	State Farm Center | Champaign, Ill.
Watch	BTN Plus
Listen	Listen
Live Stats	Live Stats
Illini Links	Game Notes (PDF)
Indiana State	GoSycamores.com
Shop	Online Store
Social Media	@IlliniWBB  | #Illini | @IlliniWBB  | Facebook  | YouTube

PREVIEW

OPENING TIP: The Fighting Illini women's basketball program opens its 47th season on Wednesday, hosting Missouri Valley Conference foe Indiana State at State Farm Center. Tipoff between the Illini and the Sycamores is set for 7 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed live on BTN+ with Scott Sudikoff (play-by-play) and Spencer Turkin (color). Mike Koon will call the action for the Illini on WDWS 1400 AM, streaming audio and live stats are also available at FightingIllini.com. 

ABOUT INDIANA STATE: Indiana State enters the 2020-21 season coming off of a 5-25 mark, including a 3-15 record and ninth-place finish in the 10-team Missouri Valley Conference. However, the Sycamores return 10 of 12 letterwinners and all five starters. Senior forward Jamyra McChristine returns after leading the ISU in scoring at 11.0 points per game. McChristine also pulled down 6.4 rebounds per game, second on the team behind LeAndra Echi's 7.6 rebounds per contest. 

SERIES VS. INDIANA STATE:  The Illini and Sycamores have met 10 times in program history, with Indiana State holding a 6-4 edge. The Illini have two consecutive matchups in the series, hosting ISU during non-conference play in each of head coach Nancy Fahey's first two season. In the 2017 matchup (Dec. 7), senior Lyric Robins - then a sophomore - tallied four points and three rebounds in 12 minutes off the Illini bench to help Illinois to an 81-52 win. Four current Illini played in the 75-57 Illinois win on Dec. 5, 2018 with then-freshman J-Naya Ephraim posting six points and five rebounds in 24 minutes as a reserve. Ephraim's classmates Carolyn Waleski and Mackenzie Blazek, along with Robins, also appeared. Waleski posted two points and one rebound. 

KEY ILLINI RETURNERS: Illinois enters the 2020-21 with eight returning letterwinners, including four players - junior J-Naya Ephraim (16 starts) and sophomores Jeanae Terry (11), Jada Peebles (11) and Kennedi Myles (29) - that started at least 10 games in 2019-20. Myles, who recorded freshman records with eight double-doubles and 251 rebounds last year, ranks as the Illini's returning leader in scoring (8.9 points per game), rebounding (8.7 rpg), blocks (21) and steals (61). Terry led the Illini with 91 assists. In addition. 

SEVEN NEWCOMERS: The 2020-21 Illini roster also includes seven newcomers. The recruiting class is ranked 27th by BlueStar Basketball. Mid-year transfer Eva Rubin, a 6-5 redshirt junior center who returned to her home state after two seasons at Arizona State, gives the Illini a boost in the paint. The Illini also added size with 6-3 junior college forward/center Geovana Lopes, 6-1 sophomore forward Solape Amusan, and 6-3 freshman forward Erika Porter. Illinois also added a pair of all-state guards from Michigan in Aaliyah McQueen and Aaliyah Nye, plus walk-on junior guard Tara O'Malley, who starred as a prep at Chicago's Mother McAuley High School. 

.UP NEXT

Illinois hosts Valparaiso Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 5 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed live on BTN+. The radio broadcast will be available on WDWS 1400 AM, streaming, and streaming audio and live stats are also available at FightingIllini.com.