NORMAL, IL – Illinois State women's basketball (6-4, 0-0 MVC) returns to CEFCU Arena for the first time in more than two weeks as the Redbirds host UAB (7-3, 0-0 AAC) in their final non-conference contest of the 2024-25 campaign. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
TEDDY BEAR TOSS
Fans are encouraged to bring new or gently used teddy bears to toss on the CEFCU Arena floor at halftime. Items will be donated to local Goodwill during the holiday season.
SERIES HISTORY
Illinois State and UAB will meet for just the second time all-time and the first time on U.S. soil. Illinois State took a 63-55 overtime win over the Blazers in 2010 at the Caribbean Classic in Cancun, Mexico. Illinois State used a 13-2 run spanning the end of regulation and beginning of overtime for a comeback win over the Blazers.
Emily Hanley provided 12 points and seven rebounds against the Blazers, while Shala Jackson scored a game-high 15 points in just 18 minutes. Kenyatta Shelton grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds; her second double-digit rebounding effort in four games.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Doneelah Washington earned MVC Freshman of the Week for the second time this season, as announced by the league office on Monday, after a strong performance in Sunday's road win at Chicago State.
Washington tallied a season-high 14 points and 4 rebounds in just 13 minutes as Illinois State beat Chicago State Sunday. She scored 12 of her 14 points in the first quarter and finished 5-for-8 from the field (62.5%) in the win. Her 14 points were the most by any Valley freshman in play last week. With the performance, she reached double figures for the fourth time in the last six games, which have all come off the bench. Over that stretch Washington is averaging 8.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game on 52.9 percent shooting from the field.
The award follows Washington's MVC Freshman of the Week honor Dec. 2, after she averaged 8.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game on 10-for-16 (62.5%) shooting from the field across three games at the Gulf Coast Showcase.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
The Redbirds, on the heels of one of the best single-season performances at home in program history, have protected home court well over the last two seasons. Over the last two seasons, Illinois State is 27-6 inside CEFCU Arena.
The Redbirds won their home opener for the third consecutive season as Illinois State secured a 71-55 win over Le Moyne. Illinois State posted a 14-2 mark at CEFCU Arena last year, tied for the second-most wins at home in a single season in program history.
HOT SHOOTING
Illinois State ranks 14th in DI and leads the Valley shooting 48.9 from the field on the year (As of Dec. 19) Meanwhile, Nevaeh Thomas ranks 12th in NCAA DI with a 62.8 shooting percentage from the field this season. Addison Martin (60.3%, 3rd in MVC) and Elyce Knudsen (52.5%, 6th in MVC) also rank in the top ten in the Valley this season shooting from the field.
Illinois State has shot north of 45% from the field in five out of the last six games, including a season-high 59.6% in the win over New Mexico State at the Gulf Coast Showcase.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Athletic Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
