NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State women's basketball head coach Kristen Gillespie has announced the 2021-22 Redbird non-conference schedule, which features five home games at Redbird Arena, two Big Ten opponents and a Thanksgiving trip to California.
"I'm very excited about our challenging non-conference schedule," Gillespie said. "We have the opportunity to play two Big Ten programs as well as three mid-major opponents who finished last year with NET rankings in the top-100. I think our balance of home and away games will also really prepare us well for the battles we will face day in and day out in the Valley. We are so looking forward to this season and to get to play in front of our fans once again in Redbird Arena!"
The Redbirds will host UMSL in exhibition on Nov. 3 before hitting the road to open the season at Northern Illinois on Nov. 9. ISU will then continue its road trip on to Saint Paul, Minn. where they will face St. Thomas in its first year as a Division I program.
Illinois State hosts Purdue on Nov. 17 for its home opener, the first time the Redbirds have welcomed a Big Ten opponent to Redbird Arena since 2016. The 'Birds are 6-3 all-time against the Boilermakers with their last meeting in 2010 resulting in a 59-57 Illinois State victory in the WNIT.
Next up, the Redbirds head to Martin, Tenn. on Nov. 20 for a rematch with UT Martin, who they faced in their last contest of the 2020-21 campaign at the WNIT in Memphis. The Skyhawks were Ohio Valley Conference champions last year, finishing 22-6 (17-2 OVC) with a 78 NET ranking.
ISU will spend the Thanksgiving holiday on the campus of UC Irvine, as they play a pair of opponents from the Golden State. The Redbirds open the tournament on Nov. 26 against hosts UC Irvine, later playing Sacramento State on Nov. 27.
The 'Birds return for a two-game homestand versus Missouri Baptist on Dec. 1 and Atlantic 10 Conference champion Dayton on Dec. 5. The Flyers went 14-5 (12-1 A10) and participated in the WNIT last season, earning a NET ranking of 83.
Illinois State will head out for a final road tilt at SIUE on Dec. 11 and at Wisconsin on Dec. 16, before concluding the non-conference schedule at home versus Saint Louis on Dec. 20. The Redbirds' second Big Ten foe of the year, ISU leads Wisconsin, 10-7, in the all-time series and last hosting them at home in Dec. 2016. Fresh off its deepest postseason run in school history, Saint Louis heads to Normal after finishing the 2020-21 season with a NET ranking of 86 and falling in the quarterfinals of the WNIT.
The Redbirds bring back nine returners from last year's 16-9 team that had its first postseason berth in eight years at the WNIT, including All-MVC first team honoree Juliunn Redmond and honorable mention selection Mary Crompton. Grad transfer Jada Stinson and the freshman class of Lexi Boles, Kenzie Bowers, Lauren Cohen and Chloe Van Zeeland are all newcomers to the 2021-22 squad.
2021-22 Non-Conference Schedule
Wednesday, Nov. 3 – UMSL (Exh.)
Tuesday, Nov. 9 – at Northern Illinois
Saturday, Nov. 13 – at St. Thomas
Wednesday, Nov. 17 – PURDUE
Saturday, Nov. 20 – at UT Martin
Friday, Nov. 26 – at UC Irvine*
Saturday, Nov. 27 – vs. Sacramento State*
Wednesday, Dec. 1 – MISSOURI BAPTIST
Sunday, Dec. 5 – DAYTON
Saturday, Dec. 11 – at SIUE
Thursday, Dec. 16 – at Wisconsin
Monday, Dec. 20 – SAINT LOUIS
Home games in BOLD
*UC Irvine Thanksgiving Tournament
SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets are available for the 2021-22 season. Follow this link to purchase your season tickets or contact the Athletics Ticket Office at (309) 438-8000 for more information.
Adult general admission season tickets are available for just $50. Reserved season tickets are only available in the semi-private and easily accessible premium loge boxes for $75, with an additional required $75 per seat minimum donation to the Weisbecker Scholarship Fund.
Children 12 and under can receive free admission to all regular season home contests with a Reggie's Kids Club membership card.
For all latest on Illinois State women's basketball, stay tuned at GoRedbirds.com and follow the team at @RedbirdWBB (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
