NORMAL, Ill. – Elyce Knudsen scored a game-high 24 points to help Illinois State women's basketball (19-10, 13-5 MVC) run away from Valparaiso (12-17, 8-10 MVC) 90-68 Saturday on Senior Day inside CEFCU Arena.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Knudsen knocked down six threes and tallied 18-first half points in the win Sunday, ultimately finishing with 20+ points for the fourth time in MVC play. Her six threes tied a career-high for the graduate student and marked the second time this year Knudsen has tallied 5+ threes. (Nov. 24 vs Harvard)
- Shannon Dowell finished with 19 points in the win, scoring 13 points to help Illinois State pull away in the second half. She also tallied six rebounds and 5 assists.
- Senior Caroline Waite and Nevaeh Thomas reached double figures Saturday. Waite scored 8 points in the opening quarter and knocked down four threes to finish with 14 points. Thomas just missed out on a double-double, totaling 10 points and 9 rebounds.
- Illinois State jumped out to a 17-6 first-quarter lead but the Beacons responded, cutting the deficit to four before the end of the first half.
- The Redbirds opened a big lead in the second half, hitting a trio of threes in the first three minutes. Knudsen connected on a long ball at the 7:16 mark of the third and put Illinois State up double figures for the first time since the first quarter.
- Illinois State outscored Valparaiso 26-11 in the third quarter and led the Beacons 65-46 heading into the fourth. Thomas put up eight points in the third while freshman Trista Fayta notched seven points in the quarter. Fayta made four straight free throws to close the third, including two in the final minute.
- Shannon Dowell scored 11 points in the third quarter, including a bucket at the 7:53 mark that gave Illinois State a 20-point advantage for the first time. The Redbirds emptied the bench from there and closed out the win on Senior Day.
GAME NOTES
- Freshman Doneelah Washington posted her 29th block this season, tying Cathy Boswell for second on Illinois State's freshman single season blocks list. She trails only Leslie Ferrell (48, 1986-78) for blocks by a freshman in program history.
- Illinois State shot 29-53 (54.7%) from the field in the win, shooting north of 50% in a single game for the 13th time this season. It marked the tenth time the Redbirds have shot 50% or better from the floor in MVC play this year.
- The Redbirds held a 45-26 advantage on the glass, winning the rebounding battle for the 19th time this season. Illinois State improved to 16-3 when outrebounding their opponent this year and grabbed 40+ rebounds for the 12th time this season.
- Illinois State tallied a season-high 13 threes, shooting a season-best 56.5% from behind the arc.
- The Redbirds won their eighth consecutive game over Valparaiso, which is the program's third-longest active win streak over a current Valley member.
- Illinois State finishes the campaign 11-3 inside CEFCU Arena, winning six straight home games to close the year.
- The Redbirds finished with 4+ double-figure scorers for the 21st time this season. Illinois State is 28-9 when putting 4+ in double-figures since the start of the 2023-24 campaign.
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