Illinois State Redbirds lost to Marshall Thundering Herd, 66-41, in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) championship game on Apr. 4 at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington, West Virginia. The Redbirds made their first appearance in a WNIT title game but were unable to overcome Marshall’s strong performance on their home court.
The outcome concludes a notable season for Illinois State, marking their second consecutive year with 24 wins and tying a school record with 17 home victories at CEFCU Arena. The team’s recent postseason runs highlight growing competitiveness and consistency.
Grace Nelson scored the first six points for Illinois State, but Marshall took an early lead behind Timaya Lewis Eutsey’s efforts. Despite attempts by Addison Martin and others to close the gap throughout the contest, Marshall maintained control with high shooting accuracy in the opening quarter and extended their advantage after halftime. Martin led Illinois State with 11 points while Bella Finnegan and Nelson each contributed six points. Trista Fayta added nine points and two assists.
Illinois State senior Addison Martin and sophomore Doneelah Washington were named to the WNIT All-Tournament Team following the contest. The Redbirds have posted a combined record of 6-2 in WNIT play over the past two seasons, including reaching the Fab Four in 2025 before this year’s finals appearance.
According to the official website, Illinois State Redbirds benefits from initiatives like the Redbird Athletics Excellence Fund aimed at enhancing competitiveness and recruitment. The team is also supported by facilities such as OSF HealthCare Athletics Training Center for student-athlete preparation according to official sources. As reported by the official website, Illinois State University is linked closely with its athletic programs that compete across NCAA Division I events nationally.
Looking ahead, fans can access news updates, schedules, rosters, tickets, multimedia content and more through resources provided by the official website.
