CARBONDALE, Ill. (Interstat) — A surging Illinois State women’s basketball team will look to continue its climb in the Missouri Valley Conference standings when it visits Southern Illinois on Friday night at SIU Arena. The Redbirds (13-9) have won five of their last six games, including a 77-70 victory over Drake last Saturday. They are powered by guard Trista Fayta, who is coming off a 23-point, 9-assist performance in that win. Over her last seven games, Fayta is averaging 14.1 points and 6.0 assists, providing steady leadership for an efficient offense. Southern Illinois (8-13) has shown recent signs of life, securing back-to-back road wins at Illinois-Chicago and Valparaiso last week. The Salukis are led by forward Indya Green, who dominated Valparaiso with 29 points and 14 rebounds. Green has scored 18 or more points in five of her last six contests, establishing herself as one of the league’s most formidable interior forces. The matchup pits Illinois State’s momentum against a Southern Illinois team finding its footing at home. The Salukis will need to contain Fayta’s playmaking and the Redbirds’ balanced attack, which saw Doneelah Washington add 20 points against Drake. Illinois State must find an answer for Green’s scoring and rebounding prowess to slow the Salukis’ resurgence. This game is the first of a home-and-home series between the in-state rivals, who will meet again in Normal on Feb. 26. Friday’s contest tips off at 7 p.m. CST.