NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State women's basketball (8-6, 2-1 MVC) brings a two-game win streak into a challenging week against the last two unbeaten teams in MVC play this week. First, the Redbirds host UNI (8-6, 3-0) Friday inside CEFCU Arena at 6:30 p.m. before Drake (9-5, 3-0) visits Sunday at 2 p.m.
The Redbirds are primed for two exciting promotions this week, with Friday set as the team's 'WHITEOUT' game while Sunday is 'Pack the Arena'. The first 400 fans at Friday's game will get a free white T-shirt, while admission is free for Sunday's game against the Bulldogs.
SERIES HISTORY
The Redbirds and Panthers are set to meet for the 92nd time all-time in a series that Illinois State leads by a 48-43 margin. However, Illinois State will look to avenge two losses in three meetings with UNI last season, including once at the MVC Tournament. Led by 26 points and 8 rebounds from DeAnna Wilson, Illinois State secured an 88-77 home win over the Panthers in January of last season.
Sunday marks the 93rd all-time meeting between Illinois State and Drake. In a series that dates back to 1981, the Bulldogs lead 52-40. The two sides split a pair of meetings last season, with the Redbirds handing Drake its only conference loss of the 2023-24 campaign. Wilson scored 24 points in the 79-70 win for the Redbirds inside CEFCU Arena.
MVC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
For the third time this season Doneelah Washington earned MVC Freshman of the Week Monday. Washington averaged 12.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game in play last week on 9-for-18 (50%) shooting from the field.
With 15 points and 10 rebounds, she recorded her first-career double-double Thursday against Indiana State, the first and only double-double by a freshman in Valley play this season. She nearly posted another double-double against the Purple Aces Saturday, tallying 10 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks in the win.
Washington totaled 6 blocks across the two games, improving to a league-best 10 blocks since the start of Valley play.
THE VALLEY'S BEST
Washington is off to an impressive start to MVC play this season, leading all MVC freshmen in several stat categories.
She's the top Valley rookie with 31 points (tied), 23 rebounds, 11 offensive rebounds, 54.5% field goal percentage (tied) and 1 double-double since the start of MVC play.
Washington also leads all MVC players with 10 blocks since the start of the conference campaign.
STACKING DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Nevaeh Thomas has double-doubles in four of her last five outings, including a pair last week for Illinois State. It marked the second time this season she recorded consecutive double-doubles.
Thomas leads Illinois State with five double-doubles on the year and is one of two players in the MVC with five-plus double-doubles this season (Gift Uchenna, Southern Illinois). She needs one double-double to tie her mark of six last season in her freshman campaign at Evansville.
WAITE'S WORLD
Senior Caroline Waite surpassed 1,000 career points Saturday against Evansville, finishing with a game-high 14 points to reach the milestone. Her 1,000 career points includes 214 career threes, four of which came against the Purple Aces, and a 31.5% mark from deep in four years.
RECORD-BREAKING NIGHT
Illinois State finished with 96 points in the win over Indiana State, the Redbirds' second performance of 95+ points this season. It is the most points the program has ever scored against a Valley opponent and the most Illinois State has scored in conference play since 1990. As a member of the Gateway Conference in 1990, the Redbirds put up 107 points at home against Eastern Illinois.
The performance marked just the second time since 2000 that the Redbirds have posted 95+ points against an MVC foe (95 at Missouri State, 2008)
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