NORMAL, IL – Illinois State women's basketball (6-5, 0-0 MVC) fell Friday to UAB (8-3, 0-0 AAC) 71-68 as a potential game-tying three didn't fall for Illinois State in the Redbirds non-con finale.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Four Redbirds finished in double figures, led by Elyce Knudsen's game-high 17 points. She went 4-for-10 from three on the night, including a pair of long balls in the third as Illinois State took the lead for the first time since the opening quarter.
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Two Redbirds posted a double-double in the same game for the first time this season. Shannon Dowell recorded her first double-double of the 2024-25 campaign, posting 16 points and grabbing 10 boards. Nevaeh Thomas tallied her second-straight double-double and her third of the season overall, tallying 11 points with a season-high 12 rebounds. Thomas, who has reached double figures in every game for Illinois State this season, scored nine of her 11 points in the second half.
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Illinois State erased a 28-16 deficit to take the lead in the second half, but the Blazers knocked down 15 threes to pull out a win late. The Redbirds posted a 20-6 run from midway in the second quarter to early in the third quarter and grabbed a 36-34 advantage. Knudsen's three gave Illinois State the lead but the Redbirds couldn't hold on.
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Teams traded runs throughout the second half, as the Blazers led by as many as eight points but Illinois State would battle back each time. Dowell hit a pair of free throws with five seconds remaining to pull within 71-68 in the final moments. Knudsen had a clean look from deep but the shot didn't fall and UAB escaped with a win.
GAME NOTES
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The Redbirds have finished with four-plus double-figure scorers in nine of eleven games to open the season. Over the last two seasons, Illinois State has finished with 4+ double-figure scorers in 23 games, and 5+ double-figure scorers in nine games. The Redbirds are 19-5 when putting four-plus players in double-figures since the start of the 2023-24 campaign.
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Illinois State outrebounded the Blazers 45-31, grabbing more boards than their opponent for the sixth time in seven games. It marked the third straight game Illinois State grabbed 45-plus boards, and the fourth time overall this season, after a season high of 55 Sunday at Chicago State.
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