NOTEBOOK (PDF)
Four Perfect in MVC Play
Missouri State (2-0), Bradley (2-0), Illinois State (2-0) and Drake (1-0) remain perfect after the first weekend of league play. The four teams will put their undefeated MVC records on the line this weekend as Drake travels to Missouri State and Bradley hosts Illinois State.
MSU won its first two MVC games for fourth time in the last five seasons and 14th time in 28 years in the Valley. After the previous thirteen 2-0 starts, the Lady Bears have won the regular season four times, finished second seven times, and placed third twice.
The Redbirds picked up wins at home over Indiana State and Evansville in the opening weekend of MVC play, making it the first time since the 2012-13 season that ISU has been 2-0 to open the conference slate.
Bradley is 2-0 to start Valley play for the second time in the last three years and seventh time overall. Friday’s matchup with Illinois State marks the first time in program history that Bradley will play a game in which both teams have a 2-0 conference record or better.
Bradley Named NCAA.com WBB Team of the Week
The Bradley women's basketball team was named the NCAA.com Women's Basketball Team of the Week following last weekend's performance.
Full Story
Home Sweet Home
The most wins by home teams in league play came in 2008 (61-29 at home in conference play). The league has compiled a 6-3 (.667) mark so far in 2019-20.
Five MVC teams are unbeaten at home: Bradley (6-0), Drake (6-0), Illinois State (8-0), Missouri State (6-0) and UNI (4-0) have unblemished records on their home courts this season.
The Valley currently has three teams with a home win streak of 12. Drake, Bradley and Illinois State have each won 12 straight at home (T-9th longest nationally).
Historic Conference RPI
The Valley ranks seventh nationally in the NCAA’s conference RPI report (Jan. 6). The Valley sits behind the Pac-12, Big Ten, ACC, SEC, Big 12 and Big East entering this week.
The Valley record for RPI in a season is 8th (2008 & 2011).
Conference RPI
1. Pac-12
2. Big Ten
3. ACC
4. SEC
5. Big 12
6. Big East
7. Missouri Valley
8. American
RPI Update
The latest weekly installment of the NCAA RPI Report (Jan. 6) has six Valley teams that rank in the top-100, including three in the top 45. Missouri State leads the way at No. 2 with Drake at No. 25 and UNI at No. 43. Southern Illinois (60), Illinois State (82) and Loyola Chicago (95) round out the schools in the Top 100.
The Valley joins the Power Five leagues and the Big East as the only leagues to have six Top 100 teams.
New Non-Con Record
Valley women’s basketball reached 73 wins in non-conference play. Only five times previously since the 1992-93 season has the MVC claimed 60+ non-league wins in a season. This year’s 73 wins sets a new league record for most non-con wins, surpassing 66 wins in 2009-10. This season marks the second-best non-conference win percentage in league history, trailing only the 1994-95 season.
MVC Top Non-Conference Records (by Winning %)
1. 1994-95 54-28 (.659)
2. 2019-20 73-40 (.646)
3. 1998-99 55-31 (.640)
Ramblin’ on the Road
Loyola Chicago is second nationally to only UConn with a 6-0 road record this season and is one of 10 teams with at least six road victories overall. UConn leads the nation with a 7-0 road mark.
Strength of Schedule
Two Valley teams have a SOS ranking in the Top 25 according to the NCAA (Jan. 6). Missouri State leads The Valley with a SOS of No. 12. Drake comes in this week ranked No. 22.
Poll Position
Missouri State moved up to No. 20 in this week’s AP Top 25 Poll, following this weekend’s wins over Loyola and Valparaiso. The Lady Bears sit 18th in the USA Today Coaches Top 25 Poll.
The Lady Bears’ six straight weeks in the AP poll is the longest such stretch by a MVC team since MSU was ranked 18-straight weeks in 2000-01 (reached Final Four).
What a Night
Senior guard Becca Hittner had quite the performance in the UNI win with a season-high and career-equaling 37 points, including making 18-of-18 from the free throw line. Hittner’s free throw total is the second most by a player in the NCAA this season and is the second-highest single-game mark in program history behind Lorri Bauman’s 22 vs Northern Illinois in 1982.
Playing with the Lead
Bradley has been used to playing with the lead this season, especially at home, trailing a total of 13 minutes in the six games played at Renaissance Coliseum in 2019-20. In fact, the Braves have played with the lead for 216 of the 240 minutes (90%) played at home this year. Overall, Bradley has played from behind for a total of 129 minutes (24.8%) this season, while holding the lead for 369 of 520 minutes (71%). Going back to last season, Bradley has led 253 of 280 minutes (90.4%) in the last seven home contests.
Give Us A “10”
After taking No. 21/19 Missouri State to overtime on Friday afternoon, Loyola picked up a thrilling 51-49 win over Southern Illinois on Sunday to move to 10-3 overall and 1-1 in MVC play. This marks the earliest in a calendar year that Loyola has reached the 10-win mark in program history.
Some Things Never Change
The Salukis defeated Valparaiso, 67-51, to open Missouri Valley Conference play. In doing so, SIU improved to 7-0 in conference openers under head coach Cindy Stein.
Efficient from Three
Missouri State enters the weekend shooting 41.1% from behind the arc, ranking fourth nationally. The last time a MVC team finished the season shooting 40.0% or better from three was Missouri State in 2005 (44.5% led nation).
Three Point FG %
1. Holy Cross 43.8%
2. UAB 41.3%
3. Gonzaga 41.2%
4. Missouri State 41.1%
5. South Dakota 41.0%
Sharing the Rock
Drake enters the weekend averaging 22.1 assists per game, which ranks third nationally. Drake is the only team in the country to rank in the top three of Assists Per Game each of the previous three seasons.
Assists Per Game
1. Baylor 23.1
2. Oregon 22.7
3. Drake 22.1
4. Iowa 21.5
5. DePaul 20.5
High Percentage
Drake enters this weekend ranking 9th nationally in Field Goal Percentage (48.0%). Drake finished 10th in FG% last year, 5th in 2017-18, and 2nd in 2016-17. UConn is the only other school to finish in the top 10 in the last three seasons. The Huskies currently sit fourth nationally.
Missouri State enters Friday’s showdown with Drake ranked 25th nationally (45.9%).