NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State Womens Basketball (11-6, 4-3 MVC) embarks on a pivotal two-game homestand this week, beginning Thursday night as UNI (5-10, 4-2 MVC) visits CEFCU Arena for a 6:30 p.m. tipoff on ESPN+ and the Redbird Sports Radio Network before MVC-leading Drake (14-4, 7-0 MVC) visits Saturday at 4 p.m. on Marquee Network, ESPN+ and the Redbird Sports Radio Network.
Illinois State will host a "Blackout" game Thursday against the Panthers with all fans set to receive rollabanas while the first 200 students at CEFCU Arena will black long sleeve shirt. Fans are encouraged to wear black to support the Redbirds. Fans can purchase tickets at http://goredbirds.com/tickets.
Saturday is the program's "Pack the Arena" game. Admission is free for all fans, while all fans will also receive a Redbird koozie. Illinois State students will be treated to free pizza, courtesy of Marcos Pizza, while supplies last.
SERIES HISTORY
Illinois State holds the edge in the long-standing series with the Panthers, leading 47-41 all-time. That includes a 26-16 mark in Normal.
Kate Bullman's two free throws lifted Illinois State over UNI in the most recent meeting in Cedar Falls. She was fouled with seven seconds to go and nailed both to help Illinois State outlast the Panthers.
Paige Robinson led Illinois State, finishing with a game-high 26 points off 9-of-17 shooting. Kate Bullman (13) and Maya Wong (12) also reached double figures.
Illinois State raced out to an 8-0 first quarter lead that the Redbirds didn't surrender until the fourth quarter. UNI took their first lead of the game 63-62 at the 5:12 mark of the fourth. Robinson scored four straight that gave Illinois State a 70-68 lead with 56 seconds to go, before UNI answered to tie the game at 70. Bullman was fouled on a second chance opportunity that set up the free throws.
Drake leads the all-time series with Illinois State 39-51, however Illinois State is 25-18 against the Bulldogs in Normal. The Bulldogs took the most recent meeting 74-54 in the 2023 Hoops in the Heartland Semi-final.
LAST TIME OUT
Illinois State's rally fell short as UIC outlasted the Redbirds 86-79 in overtime Sunday at Credit Union 1 Arena.
Maya Wong led Illinois State with 18 points, including late-game heroics that put the game into overtime. She scored 8 points in the final 35 seconds as Illinois State outscored UIC 11-5 in the closing moments to force overtime. Wong converted a three-point play that brought Illinois State within one point with 24 seconds to go. After UIC jumped back ahead 63-60, Illinois State had possession with nine seconds remaining in regulation. Wong was fouled on a three-point attempt right in front of the Redbird bench, stepping to the line and nailing all three free throws to send the game into overtime 63-63.
Shannon Dowell tallied her first career double-double, finishing with 13 points and 12 rebounds. She tallied four points and three assists in the first quarter alone, pairing it with two points. Dowell scored the first five points of overtime for Illinois State to cut away at the UIC lead.
DOUBLE DOWELL
Dowell tallied her first career double-double and the first double-double by an Illinois State freshman since the 2018- 2019 season. She joined Lexy Koudelka on the list of Redbird rookies to have tallied a double-double under Kristen Gillespie. Koudelka tallied 20 points and 10 rebounds in a February 2019 loss to Bradley.
Her 12 rebounds stand as the most by a Redbird freshman in a single game of the Kristen Gillespie era. She kickstarted her strong performance with 2 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in the first quarter alone Sunday. Dowell finished 4-for-10 from the field and also tallied one block against the Flames in a strong performance.
BENCH SPARK
Illinois State has benefited from strong bench play this season as the Redbird reserves are averaging a mark of 25.9 points per game, which ranks 34th in NCAA DI and third in the MVC. The Redbirds put up 31 points off the bench at Valparaiso, which is the seventh time this season Illinois State has tallied 30-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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