VALPARAISO, Ind. (Interstat) — Two Missouri Valley Conference women’s basketball teams seeking different kinds of momentum will meet Thursday when the Indiana State Sycamores visit the Valparaiso Beacons.

The game at the Athletics-Recreation Center pits an Indiana State team (6-13) aiming to steady itself against a Valparaiso squad (0-20) desperately in search of its first win of the season.

The Sycamores won the first meeting this season, 88-78, in Terre Haute on Jan. 1. In that game, Indiana State’s Samiyah Briggs posted 14 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while Valparaiso’s Kamryn Winch had seven points and nine rebounds.

Briggs, a player to watch for Indiana State, is coming off a 14-point, five-rebound effort in a loss to Illinois State on Sunday. She has been a consistent contributor, scoring in double figures in three of her last five games.

For Valparaiso, Winch will look to build on her performance from the first matchup. Her recent minutes have been limited, but her activity on the boards provides a key asset for the Beacons.

Indiana State has lost four of its last five, with its lone win in that stretch coming against Evansville on Jan. 18. The Sycamores’ offense has shown flashes, but defensive consistency has been an issue.

Valparaiso’s struggles are more profound, having lost each game this season by an average of 30.5 points. Their most recent outing was a 79-39 defeat at Bradley on Jan. 23, where they managed a season-low in points.

The Sycamores will be heavily favored to sweep the season series, but the Beacons will hope the home court provides a spark as they continue a grueling campaign. For Valparaiso, any path to a victory likely requires a significant defensive improvement and a standout performance from its supporting cast around Winch.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST Thursday.