NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State women's basketball head coach Kristen Gillespie has released the Redbirds' non-conference schedule for the 2023-24 season, which features five home games, a road game in ACC country, and a trip to California for the Saint Mary's (Calif.) Thanksgiving Tourney.
ISU will open the season when they host crosstown foe, Illinois Wesleyan, as part of an exhibition doubleheader, presented by First Site on Sunday, October 29. The game is a community event, as proceeds will be split between Western Avenue Community Center, and a mental health collaboration between the two schools.
The 2023-24 regular season for the 'Birds begins on the road for the third-straight season when ISU plays at Nebraska-Omaha on Nov. 6. The Mavericks, who made the Summit League Tournament final last season, and Redbirds last met in December 2020 as ISU gathered its first victory in the short three-game series history. This year's meeting marks the first time Illinois State will matchup against Nebraska-Omaha in a true road game.
Following the trip to Nebraska, the Redbirds remain on the road and head up north to face off with the Green Bay Phoenix on Nov. 11. Last year, Green Bay came into CEFCU Arena and secured the 63-49 win.
The Redbirds will open up the 2023-24 home schedule at CEFCU Arena on Nov. 15 for their annual Education Day game against SIUE. The Cougars and Redbirds have met eight previous times, most recently in 2021, as ISU holds the 5-3 series advantage including a 3-1 record when playing in Normal.
ISU hosts St. Francis (IL) on Nov. 19 before making a Thanksgiving break trip out west for the second straight season to play in the Saint Mary's (Calif.) Thanksgiving Tourney on November 24 and 25.
The Redbirds will see a pair of first-time meetings take place when the 'Birds take on the UT-Arlington Mavericks on Nov. 24 before facing the host Saint Mary's Gaels on Nov. 25. Both contests will take place from the University Credit Union Pavilion in Moraga, Calif.
After returning home, it is a meeting with Chicago State on Nov. 30 inside CEFCU Arena that awaits ISU. The two programs will meet for the first time since 2015 as ISU will look to remain perfect against the Cougars before they hit travel to ACC country and the Old North State of North Carolina.
The Redbirds travel to Raleigh, N.C. for a high-intensity matchup with the Wolfpack of NC State on Dec. 3. In the lone series meeting between the two "State" schools, it was Illinois State claiming victory from Raleigh in January 1981 (73-68).
This year's game will hold extra meaning as it will be a long-awaited homecoming for ISU head coach Kristen Gillespie.
Gillespie was a four-year letterwinner and three-year captain for the Wolfpack from 1996-99. As a junior, she was NC State's starting point guard on the 1998 NCAA Final Four squad, and she was also selected as an Honorable Mention Academic All-American the following year as a senior.
Upon her graduation, Gillespie would return to Raleigh as a graduate assistant after a couple brief coaching stops at UCF and UC Santa Barbara, pursuing a graduate degree while on the coaching staff of NC State and Women's Basketball Hall of Famer Kay Yow. During her tenure, the Wolfpack not only advanced to the NCAA Tournament, but Gillespie played a key role in recruiting a Top-20 recruiting class in 2004.
The 'Birds end the home non-conference portion of their schedule as they welcome Marquette for a Dec. 10 meeting before wrapping up the schedule against the Saint Louis Billikens on Dec. 19.
The Redbirds last hosted the Golden Eagles in 2009 as they will look to avenge their 2019 defeat and break the 2-2 series tie. Meanwhile, for the Redbirds and Billikens, it was a 10-point loss for ISU last December from Chaifetz Arena.
The Redbirds bring back nine returners from last season's MVC regular season Championship team, including All-MVC Second Team member, DeAnna Wilson. ISU added five fresh faces to the program, including four freshmen in the off-season and one transfer in former Bradley Brave, Caroline Waite.
Shannon Dowell, Molly Lenz, Brooke Coffey, and Savannah McGowan make up the Redbirds' freshmen class for the 2023-24 season.
The 20-game MVC schedule will be announced at a later date. Fans interested in purchasing new season tickets, and current season ticket holders wishing to renew their tickets, can visit www.GoRedbirds.com/tickets or call the ISU Athletics Ticket Office at (309) 438-8000.
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