ST LOUIS – The Missouri Valley Conference office announced its 2024-2025 women's basketball conference slate Thursday, one that includes 10 games inside CEFCU Arena for Illinois State.
The Redbirds open MVC play on the road at Murray State Dec. 29 to tip off an away slate that also features Valparaiso (Jan. 17), UIC (Jan. 19), Drake (Feb. 7), UNI (Feb. 9), Indiana State (Feb. 13), Evansville (Feb. 15), Bradley (Feb. 23), Missouri State (March 6) and Southern Illinois (March 8).
Illinois State will host Indiana State Jan. 2 to ring in the new year. Evansville (Jan. 4), UNI (Jan. 10), Drake (Jan. 12), Bradley (Jan. 26), Southern Illinois (Jan. 31), Missouri State (Feb. 2), Belmont (Feb. 20), UIC (Feb. 27) and Valparaiso (March 1) also visit CEFCU Arena this season.
The Redbirds are coming off a WNIT Super 16 appearance last year under head coach Kristen Gillespie, 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.
All-MVC Freshman Team selection Shannon Dowell and veteran point guard Maya Wong return for the Redbirds this season. Meanwhile former NCAA Division III National Player of the Year Elyce Knudsen (Millikin), Addi Martin (Abilene Christian) and All-MVC Freshman team selection Nevaeh Thomas (Evansville) transferred to Illinois State for the upcoming campaign.
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