NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State Women's Basketball (9-5, 2-2 MVC) looks to hand Missouri State (10-3, 4-0 MVC) its first MVC loss of the season as Bears visit CEFCU Arena Sunday evening at 6 p.m. on ESPN+ and the Redbird Sports Radio Network.
SERIES HISTORY
Missouri State leads the all-time series with Illinois State by a 49-35 margin. The two sides have split the last four matchups, with the Bears taking a 71-66 win over the Redbirds in the most recent meeting at CEFCU Arena in February of 2023.
The road team won both matchups in the series last season, as Illinois State used a late surge to win 67-63 in Springfield before dropping the home meeting. The road win was Kristen Gillespie's 200th career win and her 95th win at Illinois State. The Redbirds trailed 48-45 heading into the fourth quarter but a 10-2 fourth-quarter run propelled Illinois State to a 61-55. DeAnna Wilson's layup at the 4:21 mark of the fourth quarter gave Illinois State a one-point lead that they never surrendered. Paige Robinson's 22 points led Illinois State while Maya Wing scored a season-high 16 points in the win.
In the second meeting, Robinson scored 21 of her game-high 30 points in the second half, but it wasn't enough as Missouri State pulled out the win.
LAST TIME OUT
Abbie Aalsma scored a career-high 16 points to lift Illinois State Women's basketball (9-5, 2-2 MVC) past Southern Illinois (6-8, 1-3 MVC) Wednesday at CEFCU Arena, snapping a two-game skid for the Redbirds. Aalsma led Illinois State shooting 4-for-8 from behind the arc to reach her career high and finish in double figures for just the second time this year. Her four threes were also a career-high, as she put up 10 second half points to help Illinois State pull away from the Salukis. Aalsma was perfect from the field in the second and third quarters and went 4-for-4 from behind the arc over that stretch.
After a 10-point first half, DeAnna Wilson finished in double figures for the fifth time in the last six games. She put up 14 points to go with 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block and 2 steals Wednesday night.
Southern Illinois scored first to take 2-0 lead but the Salukis never led again in the game as Illinois State mounted a 20-8 first-quarter advantage and never looked back. Wilson scored six points out of the gate in the opening quarter, including a bucket that put Illinois State up 13-7 at the 3:25 mark of the first.
The run continued into the second as Illinois State's lead swelled to as a high as 18 points before the break. Aalsma went 2-for-2 from beyond the arc in the second. Her second of the quarter came at the 5:06 mark and extended Illinois State's lead to 32-18. Savannah McGowan and her fellow rookie Molly Lenz scored Illinois State's final six points of the first half and Illinois State took a 38-20 advantage into the locker room.
Illinois State's lead hit 30 points for the first time in the third quarter as Aaslma went 2-for-2 from behind the arc again and scored 8 points. Illinois State cleared the bench in the fourth and continued to run away with it.
SHIFT IN THE STARTING FIVE
For the first time in 11 games Illinois State rolled out a new different starting lineup Wednesday against the Salukis. Freshman Shannon Dowell stepped into the starting five, making her first career start. She was joined by Maya Wong, Abbie Aalsma, Kate Bullman and DeAnna Wilson. It was just the third different starting five for Illinois State this year.
Illinois State's five of Wong, Caroline Waite, Aalsma, Bullman and Wilson had started the last 11 games for Illinois State, and 12 of the first 13 games to open the season before Kristen Gillespie decided to shake up the starting five on Wednesday.
Wong, Aalsma and Bullman have started all 14 games for Illinois State this season.
STRONG STRETCH FOR SHANNON
Dowell has put up a strong five-game stretch for Illinois State, highlighted by her first career start Wednesday against Southern Illinois. She is averaging 9.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 0.8 steals over the last five games. In just 19 minutes Wednesday she put up 8 points and grabbed a career-high 8 rebounds to go with one steal.
Dowell brought home the first MVC weekly award of her career, earning MVC Freshman of the Week honors as announced by the league office Dec. 27. She set career-bests in points, minutes and rebounds in a strong all-around performance to help beat Saint Louis. She scored 13 points, her third game this season in double figures, and paired it with 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal against the Billikens. Dowell also hit seven free throws, a best for her short career, going 7-for-8 at the line.
She was the first Redbird to earn an MVC Weekly honor this season and also first Redbird to ever win MVC Freshman of the Week, as the honor was introduced by the league office prior to the start of this season. Dowell followed up the honor with two more double-figure games to open MVC play, scoring 10 against Bradley and Belmont to reach double figure scoring in three straight games for the first time in her short career. She scored 8 of her 10 points in the opening quarter against Belmont as Illinois State worked to trim the deficit. Dowell also surpassed her career-high again with 6 rebounds against the Bruins.
BENCH SPARK
Illinois State has benefited from strong bench play this season as the Redbird reserves are averaging a mark of 27.4 points per game, which ranks 29th in NCAA DI and third in the MVC. The Redbirds put up 35 points off the bench in Wednesday's win over Southern Illinois, which is the fifth time this season Illinois State has tallied 35-plus bench points in a single game.
Illinois State has tallied 40-plus bench points in four games this season, which includes a season-high of 55 in the win over Chicago State Nov. 30. The Redbirds also put up 40-plus bench points in wins over Omaha (41), Saint Francis (48) and UT Arlington (41).
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