Redbirds Host I-74 Rival Bradley For Annual Play4Kay Game Sunday

SETTING THE SCENE
Sunday's contest between Interstate 74 rivals Bradley and Illinois State is a big one for two reasons: The first being the two teams are only separated by one game in the MVC standings with the Braves one spot ahead of the Redbirds and the second is the game is ISU's annual Play4Kay game where the team has been extremely successful in raising funds for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

THE SERIES
Illinois State and Bradley will meet for the 89th time in program history on Sunday in the annual Play4Kay game for the Redbirds. ISU leads the all-time series, 58-30, and have won nine of the last 10 games in the series overall. Bradley won the most recent matchup on the road in Peoria on Feb. 23, 2025, 70-65 which snapped a nine-game winning streak for Illinois State in the series that had dated back to the 2021 season. ISU is 31-12 all-time against Bradley in Normal and have won the last five contests against the Braves at CEFCU Arena dating back to 2021.

THE FASTBREAK
• Today is Illinois State's annual Play4Kay game. For only the fourth time in Play4Kay's history and for the fourth year in a row, Illinois State has won the Division I BCS and Non-BCS national awards last season in 2025. The Redbirds have now been named a Play4Kay divisional winner for the tenth consecutive year.  
• Illinois State enters Sunday's  contest as winners of four of its last five games. The Redbirds have started 10-0 at home for the first time since the 2019-20 season.
• Doneelah Washington was named MVC Player of the Week for the third time this season, following strong performances last weekend against UIC and Indiana State. Washington averaged 22.5 points per contest and 8.5 rebounds per game while playing nearly 30 minutes per contest with 28 against the Sycamores.
• Trista Fayta recorded the first triple-double for the Redbirds since 1991, when she scored 14 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out 10 assists against Valparaiso.
• Washington set a career high with 29 points against the Beacons, and scored the most points by a Redbird in a game this season.
• ISU shot .636 from the field against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies, the sixth-highest field goal percentage in program history and the highest in the Missouri Valley Conference this season.
• Jaeden Pratt had the best game of her young career in ISU's win over Eastern Illinois, recording a career-high 15 points and nine rebounds while going 6-for-7 from the field and 2-for-3 from beyond the arc.
• Washington notched a career-high seven steals against Eastern Illinois, the most in a single game for a Redbird since Terrion Moore had seven at Loyola Chicago on March 5, 2021. She also added 10 points and nine rebounds in the win.
• Washington recorded a new-career high with three triples against UNI.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
• Bradley enters Sunday's matchup with a 14-7 record (6-3 MVC) and just like the Redbirds, the Braves are perfect at home posting a 10-0 home record. 
• On the season, Bradley ranks sixth in the NCAA in three-point defense, holding opponents to a .244 three-point percentage. The Braves also lead the MVC in three-point percentage at .343.
• Kaylen Nelson has been on fire, scoring at least 15 points in each of her last nine games while grabbing at least five rebounds in her last five. She has been the best three-point shooter in the conference, leading the MVC in three-pointers made per game and three-point percentage. 
• Maya Foz has also been on a hot streak, collecting her sixth MVC Freshman of the Week award last week after she averaged 19.5 points and shot .538 from the field. She currently ranks ninth in the MVC in scoring, averaging 14.6 points per game, and 10th in steals, averaging 1.6 per game.
• Last time out, the Braves defeated Drake by a final score of 85-79 and Nelson led the way, with a season-high 32 points while adding five rebounds, two steals, one assist, and one block. She went 6-for-10 from beyond the arc and had 19 points in the first half alone.

IT JUST MEANS MORE
• Sunday's game will be the 16th-annual Play4Kay game for the Redbirds. The Illinois State women's basketball program was recognized as a Play4Kay National Award Winner for the fourth year in a row in 2025.   
• For only the fourth time in Play4Kay's history, and for the fourth year in a row, Illinois State won the Division I BCS and Non-BCS national awards. The Redbirds have now been named a Play4Kay divisional winner for the tenth consecutive year.   
• ISU raised $40,000 for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund at its annual Play4Kay game on Feb. 2, 2025. The Redbirds have fundraised over $350,000 for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and the fight against all women's cancers in their previous 15 years hosting a Play4Kay game.  
• Illinois State head coach Kristen Gillespie played for and coached alongside the legendary Kay Yow at NC State.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME
• Illinois State holds a perfect 10-0 mark at CEFCU Arena this season, the best start at home under head coach Kristen Gillespie.
• The Redbirds have protected home court well over the last four years, posting a 49-9 record since the start of the 2022-23 season.
• The Redbirds won their home opener for the fourth consecutive season as Illinois State secured an 87-76 win over Dayton. 
• Illinois State posted a 14-4 mark at CEFCU Arena last year, tied for the second-most wins at home in a single season in program history.

CONVERTING FROM THE CHARITY STRIPE
• The Redbirds were busy at the free throw line in their win at Indiana State. ISU was 37-of-43 from the charity stripe in the victory, with six players attempting at least five shots each.
• The 37 free throws made by the Redbirds set a new school record, topping the previous mark of 32 made against Missouri in 1996. 
• ISU attempted 43 free throws, which was one shy of the school record of 44 set against UNI in 2004 and overall shot 86 percent from the stripe on the day.

100 MVC WINS FOR GILLESPIE
• With ISU's 75-61 win over UIC on Jan. 8, Redbird head coach Kristen Gillespie notched her 100th career Missouri Valley Conference victory.
• Ahead of ISU's matchup with Evansville, Gillespie received a commemorative ball in recognition of becoming the 10th coach in MVC history to reach triple-digit wins.

WASHINGTON WOWS
• Doneelah Washington has been on a tear lately for the Redbirds, scoring 20 or more points in five of her last eight games including a career-high 29 points in a win against Valparaiso.
• With 26 points and 10 boards against Evansville, Washington notched her seventh double-double of the season (third straight) and her second 20-point, 10-rebound game as a Redbird. 
• She is the fifth Redbird in the Gillespie era to record multiple 20-point, 10-rebound games in their career, joining Nevaeh Thomas, DeAnna Wilson, JuJu Redmond and Simone Goods.

MVC HONORS
• Doneelah Washington continues to dominate on the floor for the Redbirds and for her efforts, she was named the MVC Player of the Week for the third time this season on Jan. 26.
• She continues to do it all for the Redbirds and put together another strong week where she nearly averaged a double-double on the road against UIC and Indiana State. 
• Washington averaged 22.5 points per contest and 8.5 rebounds per game while playing nearly 30 minutes per contest against the Flames and the Sycamores, with 28 points against the Trees.

DONEELAH DOES IT ALL
• Doneelah Washington put together a strong all-around effort with 26 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and two blocks against Evansville.
• She is one of only five MVC players since 2009-10 with 25+ points, 10+ rebounds, 4+ steals and 2+ blocks in a game against an MVC opponent. Washington is also the only ISU player since 2009-10 with that same stat line.
• Washington is one of eight DI players and the only Valley player with 15+ points, 10+ rebounds, 5+ steals and 4+ assists in a single game this season, joining UConn's Sarah Strong, Saint Joseph's Aleah Snead and Madison Booker of Texas.
• Washington is currently the only MVC player ranked in the top-three in the league in rebounds, offensive rebounds, blocks and steals.
• Washington's career-high five blocked shots against Nebraska are the most in a single-game for a Redbird since Kate Bullman had six versus Evansville on Feb. 25, 2024.
• Washington's career-high seven steals against Eastern Illinois are the most for a Redbird since Terrion Moore had seven at Loyola Chicago on March 5, 2021.

BALANCED EFFORT
• The Redbirds finished with 4+ double-figure scorers in 25 games last season and have done so in 10 games so far in the 2025-26 season.
• Illinois State is 40-11 when putting 4+ in double figures since the start of the 2023-24 campaign.
• Over the last three seasons, Illinois State has finished with 4+ double-figure scorers in 51 games, and 5+ double-figure scorers in 15.

NELSON FROM DOWNTOWN
• Grace Nelson had two impressive outings against the Murray State and the Belmont, especially from three-point land.
• Nelson matched her career-high with four triples against the Racers before hitting a career-best five treys against the Bruins to round off a 20-point performance. She has scored in double figures in four of the last seven contests, including a 10-point outing against Evansville.

MONEY MARTIN
• Redshirt senior Addison Martin scored in double figures in 14 straight games to start the season and has done so in 19 of the Birds' 21 contests during the 2025-26 campaign.
• Martin has recorded three double-doubles this season, with her most recent coming against Murray State (13 points, 10 rebounds).
• She ranks 14th in the conference in scoring with 13.6 points per contest. She is one of two players ranked in the top 15 in scoring without a made three-pointer. Martin is also second in the MVC in minutes played per game (35.2).
• Martin led the MVC shooting 58.7% from the field in Valley play last season. She shot north of 50% in 16 MVC games, more than any player in the Valley. 
• She had two 20+ outings in MVC play last season. That included a season-high performance of 23 points vs Southern Illinois Jan. 31, her first 20-point performance as a Redbird. She finished with 20 points and 8 rebounds at Drake Feb. 7. 

FAYTA TAKES OVER
• Fayta became the first Redbird since the 1990-91 season to record a triple double with a 14-point, 10-rebound and 10-assist outing against Valparaiso. It's the first triple double in the MVC this season and just the fifth in the last five seasons.
• She currently leads the MVC and is tied for 20th in the NCAA with 5.6 assists per game.
• In her first career start, Trista Fayta tallied the first double-double of her career with 19 points and 10 assists against Dayton.
• Her complete performance turned out to be a unique one, as Fayta become just the second MVC player in the last 14 seasons to put up 19 points, 10 assists and 4 or more steals in a game.
• With her 10 assists, she became the first Redbirds to post double digit assists since JuJu Redmond in 2022.
• Addison Martin joined the exclusive club with a career-high 10 assists against Murray State on Jan. 2.

HURT IS HOOPIN'
• True freshman Kya Hurt had a career night against Indiana State, posting new personal-bests in points (26), assists (6), field goals (9-for-12), three-pointers (4-for-6) and steals (4). 
• Hurt is the only freshman in the NCAA this season with at least 25 points, six assists, four steals and three rebounds in a game, and the only player from any class to do so while shooting 75% from the field.
• Hurt's 26 points against Indiana State are the most by an MVC freshman in a game this season.
• Hurt took over in the second quarter against the Sycamores, shooting a perfect 7-for-7 from the field and scoring 16 points to reach 22 points by halftime.

MADISON GOES MAD
• True freshman Madison Austin also had a career night against the Sycamores, setting new personal-bests in points (14), field goals (4-for-6) and free throws (5-for-5) while matching a personal-high with six boards and one three-pointer.

DOUBLE DOUBLE TROUBLE
• Addison Martin (12 points, 10 rebounds) and Doneelah Washington (16 points, 10 rebounds) each posted double-doubles against the Sycamores. 
• They are the first Redbird pair to do so since DeAnna Wilson and Kate Bullman did it against Chicago State in 2023.

SHOOT FOR THE STARS
• In ISU's win over Oakland, the Redbirds shot .636 from the field, the sixth-highest single-game mark in program history and the best since shooting .638 at the University of Northern Iowa on Jan. 8, 1987. It also stands as the highest field goal percentage in the MVC this season.
• ISU shot .688 from the field in the first quarter and .654 from the field in the second half, marking the Redbirds' highest field goal percentage in a single quarter and half this season.
• Five Redbirds scored in double figures against the Grizzlies, including Grace Nelson, who came off the bench and went 3-for-5 from beyond the arc and scored 11 total points, setting new career-highs in both categories.

HITTING THE CENTURY MARK
• The Redbirds scored a season-high 105 points against Indiana State on Dec. 29, marking the fifth time under head coach Kristen Gillespie that Illinois State has eclipsed the century mark.
• The Redbirds' 105 points are tied for the fifth-most in a single game in program history.
• ISU's final basket of the game against Chicago State put the Redbirds over the century mark with 101 points.
• It marked the first 100-point output for the Redbirds since scoring 110 against St. Francis last December.

GEM FROM JAEDEN
• Freshman Jaeden Pratt, a starter in the first nine games, came off the bench and had the best game of her young career against Eastern Illinois. She recorded a career-high 15 points and nine rebounds while going 6-for-7 from the field and 2-for-3 from beyond the arc.
• Pratt headed a 9-0 run for the Redbirds in the second quarter, scoring a layup and a triple to force the Panthers to call a timeout with 2:15 left in the first half.

THREEBAY UNLOCKED
• The first basket for Illinois State against Dayton was a three-pointer, but it came from an unexpected shooter in Doneelah Washington who made her first two career shots from beyond the arch against the Flyers.
• She became the first Redbird since the 2009-10 season with 20+ points in a game on a perfect night shooting from the field.
• Washington recorded a new-career high with three triples against UNI.

PLAYERS TO WATCH 
• Illinois State returns seven players from last season's squad that advanced to the WNIT Fab 4, including MVC All-Freshman team selection Doneelah Washington and All-MVC Newcomer team member Addison Martin. 
• Martin and Nevaeh Thomas were listed among several MVC women's basketball "Players to Watch" for the 2025-26 season. 
• Martin started all 37 games for Illinois State and was one of six Redbirds to break the program's single-season record for games played. 
• Thomas averaged 12.1 points per game, a team-high 7.0 rebounds per game and 2.5 assists per game while ranking fifth in the MVC shooting 54.5 percent from the field. Thomas scored in double figures in 29 games, including the first 15 outings of the season, and tallied ten double-doubles, becoming just the sixth player in program history to tally 10+ double-doubles in a single season

20+ WIN SEASON
• Illinois State secured a 20-win campaign for the third consecutive season under head coach Kristen Gillespie in 2024-25, marking the first time since 2008-09 to 2010-11 that the program has earned three consecutive seasons with 20+ wins. 
• Illinois State's 24 wins last season tie the 2022-23 squad for the most in a single season under head coach Kristen Gillespie.