NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State women's basketball (1-0, 0-0 MVC) looks to remain unbeaten on the 2024-25 campaign as the Redbirds head to Saint Louis (1-1, 0-0 A10) Tuesday for a matchup with the Billikens. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
LAST TIME OUT
Illinois State held on for an 81-77 win over Northwestern to open the 2024-25 campaign last week in Evanston.
The Redbirds finished with four double-figure scorers, led by 23 points from Shannon Dowell, 15 points from Maya Wong, 13 points from Nevaeh Thomas, and a 12 point, 11-rebound double-double from Addi Martin.
Illinois State built a 36-34 halftime lead, but Northwestern rallied to lead 50-46 at the three-minute mark of the third quarter. Illinois State used a 9-2 run to take a 55-52 edge over the Wildcats, highlighted by a three from Caroline Waite to take the lead. Northwestern took a 57-55 lead to open the fourth quarter, but Illinois State answered again, grabbing a 60-59 advantage on a bucket from Dowell at the 7:17 mark. The game was tied once after, but Illinois State did not trail the rest of the way. A fastbreak bucket from Dowell gave the Redbirds a 75-68 lead with 2:28 to go, the largest lead of the second half for Illinois State.
Northwestern fought within two with 29 seconds remaining, however a three in a final moments didn't fall and Illinois State held on for the win.
SERIES HISTORY
Illinois State holds a slim 3-2 advantage in the all-time series with Saint Louis. All five meetings have come in the Kristen Gillespie era, including an 87-81 win for Illinois State last season at CEFCU Arena. Maya Wong poured in a career-high 23 points on 5-for-9 shooting from behind the arc in that game, as Illinois State came back from a seven-point first-half deficit to win its non-conference finale.
POWER UP
Illinois State earned its second 'Power' win over the last three seasons and third 'Power' win in the Kristen Gillespie era with the victory over the Wildcats. It marked the first 'Power' win by a Valley program this season. The victory followed a 62-57 win over Wisconsin in 2022 and a win at Illinois 74-58 in 2019.
The Redbirds earned their first season-opening win over a 'Power' opponent since a victory over Illinois in Champaign to open the 2010-11 campaign.
REDBIRDS IN SEASON OPENERS
Illinois State won its third consecutive season opener, which have all been road victories. The Redbirds took down Omaha to open last season and Dayton to tip off the 2022-23 campaign. The Redbirds improved to 5-3 in season openers under Gillespie and have won five of the last six.
It was the first time in the Kristen Gillespie era, and the first time since 2016, that Illinois State opens the year at a 'Power' opponent. The Redbirds tipped off the 2016-2017 campaign at Arizona State.
STRONG START FOR SHANNON
With Dowell's performance at Northwestern, she became the fourth Redbird to post a 20+ point performance in a season opener during the Kristen Gillespie era. She joined Mary Crompton (2022, 27 points; 2020, 20 points), Tete Maggett (21 points, 2019) and Simone Goods (2018, 25 points; 22 points, 2017).
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