NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State women's basketball (14-9, 8-4 MVC) looks to regain footing as the Redbirds travel to Indiana State (4-19, 2-10) Thursday at 6 p.m. and Evansville (5-18, 1-11) Saturday at 2 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY
Illinois State's longest-active win streaks against current MVC foes are versus the Sycamores and Purple Aces, two streaks that Illinois State extended earlier this season inside CEFCU Arena.
The Redbirds and Sycamores will meet for the 107th time all-time, after the Redbirds won their 11th consecutive meeting over Indiana State 96-69 Jan. 2. Nevaeh Thomas scored a career-high 25 points to go with 10 rebounds in the win, while Shannon Dowell totaled 20 points in the win. Freshman Doneelah Washington posted her first-career double-double, finishing with 15 points and 10 rebounds. The Redbirds hold a 61-45 advantage over the Syamores all-time.
The Redbirds and Purple Aces are set for their 65th all-time meeting in a series that Illinois State has dominated 45-19 overall and 22-5 in Evansville. Illinois State has won 15-straight over Evansville, which leads the program's active win streaks over current Valley foes. Illinois State took a 79-55 victory over the Purple Aces Jan. 4, in a game where senior Caroline Waite led the Redbirds with 14 points and surpassed 1,000 points for her collegiate career.
PROGRAM HISTORY
Normal's own Maya Wong is set to make program history Thursday, as she is expected to appear in her 146th game in a Redbird uniform. That mark will set a new program record, surpassing Nicolle Lewis (2005-10).
Wong has helped Illinois State to a 95-53 record over her five years with the program, which includes the 2022 MVC Tournament championship, the 2023 MVC Regular season championship and a trip to the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
ROOKIE REJECTIONS
Freshman Doneelah Washington tallied her 26th block of the season Sunday at UNI, continuing her strong campaign protecting the glass. Washington leads all freshmen in the MVC and ranks 11th among all DI freshmen in total blocks this season. She has 21 blocks in MVC play to lead all freshmen and rank 4th in the Valley.
Washington has climbed to third on the program's freshman single-season block list. She is three blocks shy of tying Women's Basketball Hall of Famer Cathy Boswell's mark of 29, set during her freshman campaign in 1979-80.
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