NORMAL, Ill. - For the first time in the history of the programs Illinois State Women's Basketball will host crosstown foe Illinois Wesleyan Sunday in a dress rehearsal for the quickly approaching 2023-2024 campaign. The contest is the front end of an exhibition men's and women's basketball doubleheader at CEFCU Arena presented by First Site. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m. with the men's game to follow approximately 30 minutes after the women's game.
TO THE RAFTERS
Prior to tipoff Sunday the program will celebrate its first MVC Regular season championship since 2009-2010 with a banner raising ceremony.
2022-2023 was an historic campaign for the Redbirds, who got off to their best start since 1973 (5-0), set a new home attendance record, won the first MVC Regular season title under Gillespie, and clinched a third-straight postseason appearance with their WNIT bid. The Redbirds' 24-9 campaign, which included a 17-3 mark in MVC play, also secured the first 20-win season under Gillespie, who was named Valley Coach of the Year. It was the most overall wins for the program since the 2012-2013 campaign and the most MVC wins for Illinois State since 1984-1985. Guard Paige Robinson shined in her lone season with the Redbirds, earning Jackie Stiles Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year honors en route to being the first WNBA Draft pick in program history.
PLAYING FOR A CAUSE
Sunday's basketball slate is a community event, as proceeds will be split between Western Avenue Community Center, and a mental health collaboration between the two schools. Western Avenue Community Center, opened in 1926, is a social service organization and community center, working with people of all ages and reaching out into the neighborhood. Today, WACC serves more than 2,000 families per year in the community.
PRESEASON PUB
Graduate forward DeAnna Wilson earned Preseason All-MVC First Team honors Tuesday, as announced by the league office in conjunction with the 2023 MVC WBB Tipoff at Vibrant Arena at The Mark in Moline, Ill. Wilson was joined by Grace Boffeli (UNI), Grace Berg (Drake), Katie Dinnebier (Drake), Maya McDermott (UNI) and Katelyn Young (Murray State) on the Preseason All-Valley First Team. Boffeli earned Preseason Player of the Year honors.
Wilson averaged 13.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in 2022-2023 en route to All-MVC Second Team honors during her senior campaign. She finished the season ranked eighth in the Valley in rebounding and twelfth in scoring. Wilson led the Redbirds in rebounding on the year and tallied eight points-rebounds double-doubles. It is the second straight season she has earned preseason honors from the Valley.
As a team, Illinois State as picked to finish third in the Preseason MVC Poll. UNI earned the Valley crown in the preseason poll, taking home 33 of 48 first-place votes and 517 total points. Second-place Drake tallied 482 points and 12 first place votes to edge out Illinois State, who earned 433 points and a pair of first place votes. Belmont, who earned the final first place vote, tallied 401 points in fourth while Missouri State was tabbed fifth with 382 points.
THE 2023-2024 REDBIRDS
The Redbirds, coming off a third consecutive postseason appearance under seventh-year head coach and reigning MVC Coach of the Year Kristen Gillespie, surround Wilson with a strong group of returners this season. That group is headlined by 2023 All-MVC Defensive Team selection Kate Bullman and redshirt senior point guard Maya Wong. Wong is set to hold down the backcourt yet again this season. She averaged 3.6 assists per game last year (8th in MVC) and started 32 games for Illinois State in 2022-2023. Bullman started 32 games for Illinois State last year, leading the team with 50 blocks (4th in MVC) and making up one-half of a strong front count duo with Wilson.
Senior guard Daijah Smith is expected to make a big impact for the Redbirds this season after sitting out the entire 2022-2023 campaign due to injury. She was named an NJCAA All-American, averaging 17.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while shooting 46.9% from the floor, for Wabash Valley College in 2021-2022. Sophomore Abbie Aalsma appeared in 33 games as rookie last year and moves into an even bigger role for the Redbirds this season. She shot 41% from three in her freshman campaign.
Illinois State brought in a strong group of newcomers, including transfer junior guard Caroline Waite from Bradley. Waite was the MVC Freshman of the Year for the Braves in 2021-2022. She led Bradley with 12.9 points while shooting 34% from behind the arc last year. Third team All-State guard Shannon Dowell (O'Fallon, Ill.), three-time Missouri state champion guard Brooke Coffey (St. Charles, Mo.), All-state honorable mention selection Molly Lenz (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and 1,000 point scorer Savannah McGowan (Plymouth, Minn.) make up a highly-touted freshman class for the Redbirds.
