Redbirds Begin Road Trip Friday At Southern Illinois

SETTING THE SCENE
Illinois State (14-9, 8-4 MVC), winners of its last four games, will look to keep that momentum going on the road this weekend when the Redbirds start a two-game road swing on Friday in Carbondale, Illinois, against the Southern Illinois Salukis (8-13, 5-7 MVC). Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. at the Banterra Center, and the game can be seen live on ESPN+ or heard on WJBC AM 1230 with Greg Halbleib on the call.

THE SERIES
Illinois State and Southern Illinois will meet for the 117th time in program history, when the two teams square off in Carbondale. ISU leads the all-time series 73-50, and have won eight straight games against the Salukis dating back to 2022. Overall, the Birds have won 15 out of the last 18 games against the Dawgs, with SIU winning three-straight contests during the stretch. The Redbirds are 30-19 against the Salukis all-time away from home, with seven wins out of the last 10 games on the road in Little Egypt.

THE FASTBREAK
 • Illinois State enters Friday's contest at Southern Illinois  as winners of four-straight games and has won seven of its last eight games overall.  
• The Redbirds have started 12-0 at home for the first time since the 2019-20 season.
• At Illinois State's annual Play4Kay game (Feb. 1), the Redbirds raised over $36,000 for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Last year, Illinois State has won the Division I BCS and Non-BCS national awards and have now been named a Play4Kay divisional winner for the 10 consecutive years. 
• Doneelah Washington was named MVC Player of the Week for the third time this season, following strong performances 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
• The Salukis are currently on a two-game winning streak including an 82-73 win over Valparaiso last Saturday night. 
• Indya Green led the Saluki with 29 points, tying her career high in that category. Green also snagged 14 rebounds to complete the double-double. Alayna Kraus dropped 18 points, while Kayla Cooper and Tkiyah Nelson hit double-digit points as well. Nelson also helped facilitate the offense with her eight assists. 
• Southern had one of their best shooting games of the season against the Beacons, hitting 41.7% of their three-point attempts.
• Kraus leads the Saluki offense on the season, averaging 15.2 points per game to rank 9th in the Valley. Green is second on the team at 12.8 points per contest, and currently ranks fourth in the MVC in rebounds per game at 8.5, just behind ISU Doneelah Washington.
• Jeniah Thompson also ranks in the Top 10 in the MVC in rebounding with 7.1 per game to come in 7th.
• The Salukis are strong defending the 3-point arch, as they rank 2nd in the MVC in 3-point field goal percentage defense at .292.
• SIU also ranks second in the legu in steals per game at 8.62 and it holds the third-best turnover margin in the league at 1.24.

VALLEY WIN STREAKS
• The Redbirds are riding an 8-game win streak over the Salukis, one of Illinois State's longest active win streaks over a current Missouri Valley Conference member. 
• Illinois State has not suffered a loss to Southern Illinois since the 2021-22 campaign.
 • The Rebirds will also face off this weekend against the team they have the longest streak against in Evansville at 17.

ACTIVE WIN STREAKS
(VS CURRENT VALLEY FOES)
Opponent        Streak         Most Recent Loss
Evansville         17 games    Feb. 2017 (56-60)
Indiana State    14 games    Jan. 2019 (44-59)
Valparaiso         9 games     Jan. 2021 (58-75)
Southern Ill.      8 games      Feb. 2022 (49-65)

GILLESPIE CLIMBS THE RANKS
• With her 77-70 win over Drake on Feb. 7, ISU head coach Kristen Gillespie picked up win No. 171 at Illinois State, which moved her into the Top 10 all-time among league coaches.
• She joins former ISU head coach Jill Hutchison (277) on the list and ISU is the only school with two coaches in the Top 10 all-time in wins.
• 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.

ANOTHER TRIPLE DOUBLE SOON?
• Sophomore Trista Fayta nearly recorded her second triple-double of the season against Drake, as she scored a career-high 23 points, dished out nine assists and grabbed seven rebounds.
• It marked the first time this season that a Redbird has led the team in each of those categories in the same game. 
• Earlier in the season, 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 was the first triple double in the MVC this season and just the seventh in the last five seasons.
• She currently leads the MVC and is tied for 19th in the NCAA with 5.6 assists per game. Her 128 total assists put her at No. 27 in the country.

IT JUST MEANS MORE
• The Feb. 1 game against Bradley was ISU's 16th-annual Play4Kay game, where ISU raised over $36,000 for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund during the game, and have now fundraised over $380,000 for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and the fight against all women's cancers in their previous 16 years hosting a Play4Kay game.  
• 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 ten consecutive years.
• 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 12-0 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 51-9 record since the start of the 2022-23 season. Overall, the Redbirds are 99-29 at home under the leadership of head coach Kristen Gillespie.
• 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.

WASHINGTON WOWS
• Doneelah Washington has been on a tear lately for the Redbirds, scoring 20 or more points in six of her last 10 games including a career-high 29 points in a win against Valparaiso.
• With a 14-point, 14- rebound performance in a win over Bradley, Washington notched her eighth double-double of the season.
• With 26 points and 10 boards against Evansville, she recorded 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. With two blocks against Bradley, she moved into the Top 10 in career blocks with 69, just three away from Wilson in ninth with 72.
• 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' 23 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 18th in the conference in scoring with 12.5 points per contest. She is one of two players ranked in the top 20 in scoring without a made three-pointer. Martin is also second in the MVC in minutes played per game (35.3).
• 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. 

FAYTA TAKES OVER
• 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.

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.