NORMAL, Ill. – For the third straight game Shannon Dowell finished with 20+ points as Illinois State Women's Basketball (20-9, 13-6 MVC) outlasted Murray State (18-10, 11-8) 85-75 Thursday at CEFCU Arena.
The result moved the Redbirds one step closer to clinching a first-round bye at next week's Hoops in the Heartland. Illinois State secures a top-four seed with a win on Saturday over Belmont.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Illinois State built as high as a 19-point lead in the game, but Murray State fought and trimmed the Redbird advantage down to just four points with 6:51 to play in the fourth quarter. Illinois State answered with an 8-2 run to regain control and seal a win.
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Dowell continued her late push for MVC Freshman of the Year, becoming the only true freshman in the MVC this season to score 20+ points in three consecutive games. She scored 23 points in the win, including 14 points in the second half. Dowell also tallied 5 rebounds and three assists.
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Dowell was one of four Redbirds in double figures Thursday. Kate Bullman tallied her fourth double-double of the year, putting up 14 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks. Bullman was also 3-for-3 from deep in the win.
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Maya Wong and Daijah Smith also finished in double figures. Smith put up 16 points, a high for her Illinois State career, to go with 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. Wong, who reached her 1,000th career point in the first quarter, tabbed 14 points and 7 assists.
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Dowell scored 7 early points as Illinois State took a 20-13 lead into the second quarter. The Racers pulled within 28-24 in the second, before a 9-1 surge gave Illinois State its largest lead of the first half at 39-25. Bullman scored 8 points in the second frame, hitting a pair of threes to help Illinois State build a 39-28 halftime advantage.
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The Redbirds opened the second half on a 10-2 run that gave Illinois State the 19-point lead. Dowell scored 7 points of the run, pairing it with an Abbie Aalsma long ball.
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After Murray State cut the lead to four points in the fourth quarter, Maya Wong hit a clutch three to make it a three-possession game again. DeAnna Wilson scored and Dowell hit a three to put Illinois State back up 10.
GAME NOTES
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Dowell is averaging 25.3 points per game over her last three contests, the first three 20+ point performances of her college career.
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With the win, Illinois State reached 20 wins for the second straight season. It is the first time since 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 that Illinois State has finished with 20+ wins in consecutive seasons.
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Thursday was Illinois State's 13th home win, the most for the Redbirds in the Kristen Gillespie era. With a win Saturday, Illinois State can tie for the second-most home wins in a single season in program history.
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Wong became the 32nd player in program history to reach 1,000 career points and joined teammate DeAnna Wilson on the list of Redbirds to do so.
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The Redbirds dished a season-high 23 assists in the win. It was the fourth time this year and the second time in MVC play that the Redbirds have tallied 20+ assists in a single game.
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It was the 12th time Illinois State has finished a single game with 4+ double-figure scorers this season. The Redbirds moved to 11-1 in those contests.
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