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INDIANAPOLIS – Butler will try to end the month of November with an undefeated record, but in order to reach that accomplishment they will need to post a win over Illinois State on Sunday afternoon. Tip-off between the Bulldogs and Redbirds is slated for 2 PM at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
 
Bulldog Bits                                                                                                                       
- Butler opened the UMass Lowell game on a 19-0 scoring run
- Whitney Jennings and Michelle Weaver combined for 13 assists and nine steals
- Weaver notched a career-high seven assists in the win over the River Hawks
- Tori Schickel has a double-double in three of the four games this season
- BU has hit 10 3-point field goals in back-to-back games
- Butler is shooting 52.6 percent from the field in 2018-19
- BU has outscored their opponent 175-76 in the first half this year
- Butler has only trailed for eight minutes this season
- All 13 student-athletes on the roster have played in each game this year
 
Scouting Illinois State                                                                                   
The Redbirds are off to a 1-3 start to the season after taking a 67-63 loss at Cleveland State on Nov. 19. Simone Goods was the player of the game in the setback with 22 points and six rebounds. Goods is averaging 19.8 points per game and doubles up as the team leader in rebounds. Mary Crompton led Illinois State from 3-point range with two makes from distance and led the team with seven boards against the Vikings. Illinois State would take a one-point lead into the half, but would be unable to pull out the road win. Fast break points (17-4) and points off turnovers (21-11) were significant to the outcome. Cleveland State would go on a 10-0 run to take a 36-27 lead and would hang on for their third win of the season.
 
Last Year vs. Illinois State                                                                           
Butler won 56-45 at Illinois State last year to record their fifth win of the season. Tori Schickel, Michelle Weaver and Kristen Spolyar all tied for the team lead in points with 12. Schickel was in the box score with a double-double by adding 11 rebounds. Butler's defense was a big factor in the outcome. The Redbirds only made 13 shots with six of those coming from 3-point range. They especially struggled early with Butler winning the first quarter 17-5.
 
BIG Wins for the Bulldogs                                                                           
Butler won four games a year ago by 20+ points. After the first four games of 2018, they have wins by 35, 21, 41, and 53 points. BU ranks second in the BIG EAST in scoring offense (84.8) and leads the conference in both scoring margin (+37.5) and field goal percentage.
 
Great Start                                                                                                                         
Butler is 4-0 at the start of the 2018 season after starting 3-0 one year ago. The best start in BU history came in 1990-91 when Butler won their first 10 games of the year.
 
Shot Selection                                                                                                 
Head Coach Kurt Godlevske has four players on the roster shooting over 60 percent from the field. Tori Schickel and Ashanti Thomas are each shooting 65 percent from the field and Weaver is close behind at 61.5 percent. The top field goal percentage on the team belongs to Shae Brey who has hit five her of seven attempts (71.4%).
 
Under Pressure                                                                                               
Butler's depth has allowed them to turn up the defensive pressure. The 'Dawgs are averaging 17 steals per game and have reached 18 total steals in each of their last two games. Illinois State heads into the weekend averaging 17 turnovers per contest.
 
Share the Ball                                                                                                   
Butler has reached 20+ assists in each of their last two games. BU notched a season-high 24 assists in the win over UMass Lowell. Michelle Weaver set a new career-high with seven assists in the victory and teammate Whitney Jennings recorded six.
 
Slow Down Simone                                                                                                       
Simone Goods is averaging 19.8 points per game for the Red Birds. The 6-2 transfer from Kirkwood Community College is shooting 55 percent from the field, but only has one assist this year. Butler has not allowed any player to score 19 points against them this season. Brianna Rudolph of UMass Lowell scored 16 vs. BU their last time out.
 
Chase for 50                                                                                                                      
Head Coach Kurt Godlevske now has 49 career wins at Butler. He has a chance to reach 50 by the end of the week with a game lined up vs. Illinois State.
 
Schickel Climbs Scoring List                                                                        
Tori Schickel reached 1,000 career points on Jan. 10, 2018 against St. John's to become just the 22nd player in Butler women's basketball history to reach 1,000. Schickel now ranks 11th on the all-time scoring list with 1,299 career points. She is now 21 points away from 10th place on the list which is currently held by Sarah Schuetz (1,320, '94-'98).
 
Schickel Goes After Rebound Record                                                     
Tori Schickel heads into Saturday afternoon with 892 career rebounds, a total that ranks her fourth all-time at Butler. She will attempt to become just the third player in school history to reach 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in her BU career, joining Elza Purvlicis (1980-84) and Beth Piepenbrink (1980-83).
 
Double-Double                                                                                               
Tori Schickel recorded the 37th double-double of her BU career vs. UMass Lowell. She ended the game with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Schickel had seven double-doubles as a true freshman and 16 as a sophomore. A year ago, she led the team with 11.
 
Up Next                                                                                                                              
Butler will host Ball State on Sunday, Dec. 2. The two in-state rivals will take the court at 2PM. The contest marks the end of Butler's six-game home stand.