DE Assistant Sports Editor

Trying to knock the SIUC women’s basketball team out of contention for a Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title is no easy task.

However, that’s just what the Redbirds of Illinois State University will attempt to accomplish tonight in Bloomington.

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With weekend losses at Creighton and Drake, the Redbirds (10-4) have all but dropped out the conference title race but, still presents itself as a formidable foe in the Valley.

Thanks to ISU’s recent losses, SIUC (12-2) is in sole possession of second place in the Valley. The Salukis have won seven straight conference games and remain tight on the heels of first place Southwest Missouri State (13-1).

ISU’s women’s basketball coach Jill Hutchison said SIUC is right on top of its game and is the team to beat in the Valley right now.

They are certainly the team to beat, Hutchison said. They’ve got a lot of momentum right now. Except for our game on the road, their critical games are at home.

I think they are sitting in a very pretty spot right now in the conference.

Second place may be pretty, but that doesn’t mean SIUC women’s coach Cindy Scott is comfortable with the position.

Scott said she is uneasy heading into Bloomington tonight because the Redbirds have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

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It’s a scary ball game for all of us, Scott said. They are having a very good season. They are coming off two road losses (Creighton, Drake) and unfortunately that’s not good for us because they aren’t happy about that.

I know they are looking forward to playing us and they feel it’s their turn to get a win against the Salukis.

SIUC began its current winning streak on Jan. 25 with a crushing 89-54 win against the Redbirds Jan. 25 at SIU Arena.

In a game that saw four Salukis in double figures, SIUC shot a season-high 58 percent from the field, while holding the Redbirds to an all-time low field goal percentage of 29 percent.

A win by the Salukis tonight would even the all-time series against ISU at 32 games apiece.

If there is any obstacle standing in the way of a Saluki victory tonight it would by far be the Redbirds performance at home this season, where they are a perfect 7-0 in the Valley.

Hutchison said the Redbirds are looking forward to hosting the Salukis tonight.

There is no question about it, we are ready to play and we are anxious to have them here, she said. We’re going to give it everything we’ve got whether we have anything to lose or not.

Scott said playing at Redbird Arena has already proven to be tough in the past.

I thinks it’s a difficult place to play, she said. They are always very well prepared and very well coached. Their team is always prepared for whatever we bring to them.

Scott said SIUC cannot afford any let downs at this stage of the season and winning the rest of its regular season games is crucial.

We really feel like every game is a must win, Scott said. It’s good in one aspect in that it prepares us for the tournament.

SIUC remains on the road this weekend, heading to Terre Haute to take on Indiana State (2-12) Saturday, before hosting Wichita State (4-10) next Thursday at SIU Arena.