NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State women's basketball (19-10, 13-5 MVC) hits the road for the final week of the 2024-25 regular season as the Redbirds battle Missouri State (22-7, 14-4 MVC) Thursday and Southern Illinois (4-23, 2-16 MVC) Saturday.
SERIES HISTORY
The Bears lead the all-time series by a 50-37 margin; however, Illinois State took a 66-55 victory over the Bears in the most recent meeting in February. Shannon Dowell scored a game-high 22 points leading Illinois State to that 66-55 win over Missouri State. Thursday marks the 87th all-time meeting and the final in MVC play, as Missouri State is set to leave for Conference-USA after the 2024-25 campaign.
Illinois State leads Southern Ilinois 68-46 all-time, winning the last six meetings. It is Illinois State's fourth-longest active win streak over a current Valley member, behind streaks of eight over Valparaiso, 12 over Indiana State and 16 over Evansville.
The Redbirds won 78-60 over Southern Illinois in January, as Elyce Knudsen put up 25 points and Addison Martin tallied 23 points.
NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
Elyce Knudsen earned MVC Newcomer of the Week for the fourth time this season. Knudsen averaged 17.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, shooting 60 percent from the floor and 72.7% from last week.
She reached double figures in both games, including 24 points and 6 rebounds in a win over Valparaiso Sunday. It was the most points by a newcomer in a single game last week. She tied her career high with six threes in what was her fourth 20+ point outing of MVC play.
Knudsen shot 8-for-13 (61.5%) from the floor and 6-for-9 (66.7%) from deep in the game, which is the only performance of 20+ points on better than 60% shooting from the floor and 60% shooting from deep by a newcomer in MVC play this season.
It marks the seventh time this season a Redbird has earned MVC Newcomer of the Week, the most of any team in the Valley. Addison Martin is a three-time MVC Newcomer of the Week, taking home the honor Feb. 3, Jan. 13 and Nov. 11.
THE REDBIRD STATE
Thursday marks the ninth and final time of the regular season the Redbirds will battle an in-state foe.
Since the start of the 2019-2020 campaign, the Redbirds are 42-10 against in-state foes and 24-2 vs in-state foes inside CEFCU Arena. That includes a 7-1 mark against in-state foes this year, which improved the Redbirds to 21-2 against in-state teams over the last three seasons.
ROOKIE REJECTIONS
Doneelah Washington tallied her 29th block of the year Sunday vs Valparaiso, moving into second on the program's freshman single season block list. It is the most blocks by a Redbird freshman since 1987. She leads Valley freshmen with 24 blocks in MVC play, which is fifth among all Valley players.
Washington is one of just three freshmen in program history to tally 20+ blocks in their rookie campaign. She is one block shy of joining Leslie Ferrell (1986-87) as the only freshmen in program history with 30+ blocks.
REDBIRDS REBOUND
Illinois State has out-rebounded its opponent in 19 games this season. That includes 11 MVC games and five-straight MVC opponents . Illinois State held a 45-36 advantage on the glass in the win over Valparaiso, tallying 40+ rebounds for the 12th time this season and improving to 16-3 when winning the battle on the glass.
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