Illinois State secured an 83-78 overtime victory against Belmont on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena, maintaining its perfect home record this season. The Redbirds (16-10, 10-5 MVC) rallied in the second half, led by Doneelah Washington’s standout third-quarter performance and strong free throw shooting from Addison Martin and Grace Nelson in overtime.
Belmont took an early lead, finishing the first quarter ahead 15-8. Despite a scoring run by Martin in the second quarter, the Bruins maintained control until late in the half when Washington helped narrow the gap. At halftime, Belmont led 33-25.
The third quarter saw Illinois State close the deficit with Washington contributing 16 points in that period alone. By the end of the third, Belmont’s lead had shrunk to one point at 53-52.
Illinois State claimed its first lead early in the fourth quarter through a three-point play by Washington. Both teams traded leads throughout regulation. In the final seconds, Martin tied the game at 68 with two free throws after being fouled driving to the basket. A missed last-second shot by Belmont sent the contest into overtime.
Nelson started overtime with a three-pointer for Illinois State before quick responses from both sides kept it close. Layups from Martin and Washington gave ISU a four-point edge, which was preserved through successful free throws down the stretch.
With this win, Illinois State improved to 13-0 at home this season—their best start since beginning 17-0 during 2010–11—and evened their all-time series with Belmont at three wins each.
Washington finished with her ninth double-double of the year—posting a career-high 31 points along with 12 rebounds—and went nine-for-nine from the free throw line. “Washington would record her ninth double-double of the year, with a career-high 31 points to go along with 12 rebounds against the Bruins,” according to team officials. “It marked the first 30 plus point, 10 plus rebound double-double for a Redbird since 2012.”
Martin contributed 24 points and also shot perfectly from free throws (eight-for-eight), while Nelson added three three-pointers and two crucial late free throws for a total of eleven points.
Trista Fayta nearly matched her personal best for assists in consecutive games by recording eleven.
Illinois State will next face league-leading Murray State on Sunday for Senior Day at CEFCU Arena.
The Redbirds’ athletic programs are supported by initiatives such as the Redbird Athletics Excellence Fund, which aims to improve competitiveness and recruitment efforts. Student-athletes utilize facilities like the OSF HealthCare Athletics Training Center for preparation and training needs. The team is part of NCAA Division I competition across various regions (source) and maintains close ties to Illinois State University (source). Fans can access news updates, schedules, rosters, and resources through the official website.
