![]() In fact, of the 12 different teams that have competed in the Valley since 2000, eight of them have won at least one NCAA tournament game during that time and six different schools have advanced to the Sweet 16 or further. ![]() Year after year the MVC has sent teams to the NCAA Tournament that no top-seeded teams want to see themselves matched up with when the bracket is revealed on Selection Sunday. How many other leagues at the mid-major level can say they have sent multiple teams to the Final Four in the same decade, while also claiming notable players the caliber of Larry Bird and Hersey Hawkins to their past. The Missouri Valley Basketball Conference has achieved status as one of the most reputable mid-major conferences in the country over the years. Missouri Valley Basketball Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports / NCAA Basketball: 20 best current home court advantages in college hoops.NCAA Basketball: 25 best cinderella stories since 2000.NCAA Basketball: 25 biggest Selection Sunday snubs since 2000.NCAA Basketball: 25 best individual runs in the NCAA Tournament.NCAA Basketball: 25 best NCAA Tournament upsets since 2000.NCAA Basketball: Ranking the last 25 NCAA Tournament champions.“We’re just gonna make some things happen. “When we go to the tournament we are going to do some things and we are going to surprise some people,” she said. For her part, Redmond is ready to make a further statement. Gillespie is looking forward to Friday’s contest in the NCAA Tournament but wants to take a minute to enjoy it with the team. “I guess it was just a spirit thing,” she said. Sunday with the overwhelming feeling that the Redbirds were going to clinch the conference title Redmond’s belief was so strong that she woke up at 3 a.m. “Our faith was a little bit shaken, but our resolve was better and we came back with the mindset that we were going to do this.” “We once again went back to that belief we have in this program and in each other,” Gillespie said. The Redbirds were able to rally around each other to win the last game of the season against Bradley and then make a late-season push to the clinch conference championship. The Redbirds had an up and down regular season, following a five-game winning streak with a four-game losing streak that included a 42-point loss to Drake University. Gillespie said that the championship game was in many ways the season in miniature. In addition, Crompton was honored with the Elite 17 Award, which is given to the player with the highest GPA competing in the championship game. Redmond was named tournament MVP and was joined by teammate DeAnna Wilson on the MVC All-Tournament Team. ![]() Sharpshooting guard Mary Crompton had been held in check by UNI’s defense throughout but was finally able to shake free to get off her first and only shot of the game.īirds win!!!! /fKdFdJ225o- Illinois State March 13, 2022 Down six with 5:03 to go in the game, the Redbirds desperately needed a spark to make a final run at the championship. Headed into the fourth down by a single point, the game promised to go down to the wire. “She’s a competitor through and through.” “Maya, what she showed today is what we see every day in practice,” head coach Kristen Gillespie said. Led by the conference’s leading scorer Juju Redmond and sophomore guard Maya Wong, the Redbirds were able to chip into UNI’s lead further during the third quarter. After falling behind by nine, Illinois State was able to cut the lead to five going into halftime. The Redbirds started off hot with a 10-2 run but UNI answered with a run of their own and solidly took control during the second quarter. ![]() Illinois State won a war of attrition in a game where no team led by double digits. President Kinzy gets the fans in a frenzy at the pregame Redbird Rally! /BdlJJx5RyW- Illinois State March 13, 2022 ![]()
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