McLean County Times

Illinois State University's women's basketball team is set to commence its 55th season with a match against Northwestern in Evanston. The game, scheduled for Wednesday night at Welsh Ryan Arena, will be broadcast on B1G+.

Last season, the Redbirds had a successful run under head coach Kristen Gillespie, achieving a 22-12 record and securing a spot in the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). This marked their fourth consecutive postseason appearance. Illinois State celebrated back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time under Gillespie and since the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. The team advanced to the WNIT Super 16 after defeating Charleston at CEFCU Arena.

The Redbirds achieved a 14-2 home record last year, the highest during Gillespie's tenure and tied for second-most in program history. Key players included DeAnna Wilson, an All-MVC Second Team selection; Kate Bullman, who made the All-MVC Defensive Team; and Shannon Dowell, an All-MVC Freshman Team member.

Maya Wong has been named to the All-MVC Preseason Second Team for the upcoming season. Last year, she averaged career-highs of 11.8 points and 4.2 assists per game while starting all 34 games. Wong scored double figures in 21 games and surpassed 1,000 career points against Murray State.

This season sees eight new additions to Illinois State's roster, including four transfers and four freshmen. Notable newcomers are Elyce Knudsen from Millikin University, Nevaeh Thomas from Evansville, and Addison Martin from Abilene Christian University.

The Redbirds are opening their season on the road for the third consecutive year and aim to secure their third straight season opener victory after wins against Omaha and Dayton in previous years. They have won four of their last five openers under Gillespie.

Illinois State will face six in-state opponents this season, having gone 8-1 against such teams last year. Over two seasons, they hold a record of 14-1 against in-state rivals with a previous winning streak of 14 games snapped by UIC.

For more information on tickets and merchandise, fans can visit GoRedbirds.com or use the Illinois State Redbirds App.