Redbirds Fall to Braves in Peoria

PEORIA, Ill. – A 9-0 run to open the game wasn't enough Sunday as Illinois State women's basketball (17-10, 11-5 MVC) fell 70-65 to Bradley (11-16, 5-11 MVC) inside Renaissance Coliseum.  

HIGHLIGHTS  

• Shannon Dowell led Illinois State with her fourth double-double of the year, totaling 19 points and 13 rebounds to go with 2 assists and 3 steals. She scored 14 points in the second half, leading the charge as Illinois State erased a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to take a 59-58 lead with 2:16 to go.  

• Three other Redbirds finished in double-figures Sunday, as Addison Martin tallied 15 points while Elyce Knudsen and Maya Wong finished with 10 points. Martin, who also had nine rebounds and one assist, led Illinois State with 11 points in the first half.  

• The Redbirds jumped out to the 9-0 lead off threes from Wong and Knudsen. Neveah Thomas knocked down a long ball at the 7:30 mark of the first to give Illinois State a 12-3 cushion. However, Bradley ended the first quarter on a 15-4 run and led 28-16 heading into the second. 

• Illinois State fought within one possession several times, but didn't lead again until Dowell's fourth-quarter bucket put the Redbirds ahead. Illinois State trailed 51-41 and Dowell scored seven-straight points to pull within 51-48 early in the fourth.  

• The Redbirds used a 7-2 run to take the lead, capped off by Dowell's steal and fast break score. Bradley answered on the next possession though and held onto the lead for the rest of the way.  

GAME NOTES 

• The Redbirds held a 36-31 advantage on the glass, winning the rebounding battle for the 17th time this season.  

• Freshman Doneelah Washington posted her 28th block this season and is now one block shy of moving into a tie second on the program's freshman single season block list. Washington sits third all-time for a freshman, behind Leslie Ferrell (48, 1986-78) and Cathy Boswell (29, 1979-80). 

• The Redbirds have finished with 4+ double-figure scorers in 19 games this season. Illinois State is 26-9 when putting 4+ in double-figures since the start of the 2023-24 campaign. 

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