NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State Women's Basketball Head Coach Kristen Gillespie announced the addition of three transfers for the 2024-2025 season, as four-time NCAA Division III All-American Elyce Knudsen (Millikin), Addi Martin (Abilene Christian), and 2024 All-MVC Freshman Team selection Neveah Thomas (Evansville) joined the squad.
"We are absolutely thrilled to welcome three talented players and high character young women to our program as we prep for the 2024-2025 season," Gillespie said.
Knudsen comes to Illinois State following a highly touted four-year career at Division III Millikin, where she was a four-time All-American and the won the 2023 Jostens Trophy as top player in NCAA Division III.
"Elyce is a proven winner with an impressive resume," Gillespie said. "She will be a great addition to our backcourt."
Knudsen finished the 2023-2024 season scoring 763 points while setting a new Millikin record for points in a season. She became Millikin's all-time leading scorer and finished the season with 2,274 career points in 101 career games. Knudsen set new records for field goals made in a season with 301 and field goals made in a career with 899. She tallied 10 games with 30-plus points last year, which was also a Millikin record.
Knudsen averaged 26.3 points per game with 5.1 rebounds per game during her senior campaign. She had a team-high 97 assists along with 62 steals and 35 blocks. Knudsen ranked second in the country in points per game and third in total points and field goals made. She earned College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin's (CCIW) Lori Kerans Student-Athlete of the Year and selected to the All-Conference First Team (unanimous selection) for the third straight season.
This year Knudsen, who is a native of Philo, Ill., was named to the D3hoops.com All-America First Team and to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) NCAA Division III All-America Team for the second-straight season. She was a WBCA and D3hoops.com All-American in 2021-22 and earned WBCA All-America Honorable Mention in 2020-21.
She also turned in an impressive performance in the classroom, where Knudsen was a three-time selection to the College Sports Communicators Division III Academic All-America First Team. Knudsen was a Finance major with a 3.90 grade point average at Millikin.
Knudsen will be just the second First Team Academic All-American to ever suit up for Illinois State, joining former Redbird and 2023 CSC First Team Academic All-American Mary Crompton.
Martin comes to Normal with two years of eligibility remaining, after starting 51 of 52 games for the Wildcats over two seasons. She averaged 12.7 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game and shot 53.6% from the floor last season during her redshirt-sophomore campaign at Abilene Christian.
"Addi is a fierce competitor who does all the little things to be successful," Gillespie said. "Her ability to score in a variety of ways will add another dimension to our front court."
She tallied 15 double-figure performances, including a season-high of 26 points Feb. 15 vs UTRGV. The performance was three off her career-high of 29 that she set in vs Sam Houston Jan. of 2023 during her redshirt freshman season. Over two seasons, Martin averaged 11.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game for Abilene Christian.
The Shreveport, La. native spent one season in Abilene with current Redbird assistant coach Drew Cole, who was on staff during her freshman campaign that was wiped out due to injury.
Thomas joins the Redbirds from MVC foe Evansville, where she was an All-MVC Freshman Team selection for the Purple Aces last season. She averaged 15.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game, starting 17 of her 22 appearances and shooting 47.4 percent from the floor.
"Nevaeh is no stranger to our program or the MVC after a very successful freshman campaign, Gillespie said. "She is a skilled post player with a very high ceiling."
She tallied six double-doubles on the season, including 23 points and a season-high 14 rebounds Feb. 11 at Valparaiso. The outing was one of her three 20-point, 10-rebound double-doubles last year. Thomas reached double-figures in all but two of her appearances last season for Evansville, which included six performances of 20-plus points.
A native of Kenosha, Wis, Thomas graduated as Bradford High School's all-time leading scorer with 1,758 career points and all-time leading rebounder with 1,031 career boards. In 2023 she was named a WBCA All-State honorable mention and Southeast Conference Player of the Year.
The trio adds to a strong core for Illinois State next year, which will be highlighted by All-MVC Freshman Team selection Shannon Dowell and veteran point guard Maya Wong. The Redbirds are coming off a WNIT Super 16 appearance last year, which marked the program's fourth-straight bid in the postseason. Illinois State earned a 20-win campaign for the second-straight season, the first time since 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 that Illinois State has secured 20-win seasons in consecutive campaigns.
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