Redbirds Pull Away For Win Over Purple Aces, 73-53

EVANSVILLE, IN – Illinois State women's basketball (16-9, 10-4 MVC) used a strong third-quarter run to pull away from Evansville (6-19, 2-12 MVC) 73-53 Saturday inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.  

HIGHLIGHTS 

• Elyce Knudsen and Shannon Dowell led Illinois State in the scoring category, combining for 36 points and 24 first-half points. Knudsen was 8-for-16 from the field in the performance, knocking down a trio of threes and grabbing six boards. Dowell grabbed seven rebounds for the second-straight game to go with three assists in the win. 

• Maya Wong was working on triple double for the Redbirds Saturday, finishing with 12 points career-highs of 9 assists and 8 rebounds. She reached double-figures for the fourth time in five games.  

• Nevaeh Thomas posted her ninth double-double of the year, totaling 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Redbirds. The outing was her sixth double-double in MVC play. 

• After a tight first quarter, Illinois State jumped ahead 25-16 off an Addison Martin bucket early in the second. The Redbirds took a 33-25 lead into the halftime break.  

• The Redbirds used a 15-5 run in the third quarter to grab a comfortable 50-34 lead over the Purple Aces and secure a win. Wong's three at the 5:35 mark of the third gave Illinois State its first double-digit lead of the second half at 42-32. Doneelah Washington then scored four straight for Illinois State to grab the 16-point lead.  

• Knudsen's bucket with 42 seconds to go in the third quarter put Illinois State up 20 for the first time, before the Redbirds took a 57-36 lead into the fourth. From there the Redbirds closed out their 10th MVC win of the season. 

GAME NOTES 

• Illinois State won its 16th consecutive meeting over the Purple Aces, the program's longest-active win streak over a current Valley foe. The Redbirds improved to 46-19 all-time against Evansville.  

• The Redbirds shot 29-for-58 (50%) from the floor in the win, finishing 50% or better as a team for the ninth time this season. Illinois State has shot at least 50% in eight Valley games on the year. 

• Illinois State held a 45-31 advantage on the glass, tallying 40+ rebounds for the tenth time this season. The Redbirds, who improved to 13-2 when outrebouning their opponent this season, won the rebounding battle for the 13th time in 25 games.  

• Thomas posted her ninth double-double of the season, which stands as the most by a Redbird under Kristen Gillespie (2017-Present). She is one double-double shy of becoming one of six players in program history to put up 10 double-doubles in a single season. Her mark of nine double-doubles is the most by a Redbird in a single season since Ashleen Bracey and Nicolle Lewis tallied nine double-doubles in the 2009-10 campaign.  

• The Redbirds have finished with 4+ double-figure scorers in 18 games this season. Illinois State is 26-8 when putting 4+ in double-figures since the start of the 2023-24 campaign. 

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