McLean County Times

Illinois State University's women's basketball team has announced the addition of three new players for the upcoming 2024-2025 season. Head Coach Kristen Gillespie confirmed that Elyce Knudsen, Addi Martin, and Neveah Thomas will be joining the squad.

"We are absolutely thrilled to welcome three talented players and high character young women to our program as we prep for the 2024-2025 season," said Gillespie.

Elyce Knudsen joins from Millikin University, where she had a notable career in NCAA Division III. She was a four-time All-American and won the Jostens Trophy in 2023. "Elyce is a proven winner with an impressive resume," Gillespie commented. Knudsen ended her final season at Millikin with 763 points, becoming their all-time leading scorer with 2,274 career points.

Addi Martin arrives from Abilene Christian University, bringing two years of eligibility. Last season, she averaged 12.7 points per game and shot over 53% from the floor. "Addi is a fierce competitor who does all the little things to be successful," Gillespie noted.

Neveah Thomas transfers from Evansville after being named to the All-MVC Freshman Team last year. She averaged 15.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game during her freshman campaign. "Nevaeh is no stranger to our program or the MVC after a very successful freshman campaign," said Gillespie.

The trio joins Illinois State's strong core lineup which includes Shannon Dowell and Maya Wong. The Redbirds recently made it to the WNIT Super 16 and achieved consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time since early last decade.