McLean County Times

Illinois State University's women's basketball team is set to face Saint Louis in an upcoming game. The Redbirds, who are currently 1-0 for the season, will play against the Billikens on Tuesday night at 7 p.m., with coverage available on ESPN+.

In their last outing, Illinois State secured an 81-77 victory over Northwestern. Shannon Dowell led the team with 23 points, supported by Maya Wong with 15 points, Nevaeh Thomas with 13 points, and Addi Martin who recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Despite trailing during parts of the game, Illinois State managed to regain control and maintain their lead until the end.

The history between Illinois State and Saint Louis is close, with Illinois holding a slight edge of three wins to two losses. Their most recent encounter saw Illinois State winning 87-81 last season. In that match, Maya Wong achieved a career-high of 23 points.

The Redbirds' win over Northwestern marked their second 'Power' victory in three seasons under coach Kristen Gillespie. This follows previous victories over Wisconsin in 2022 and Illinois in 2019. Additionally, this was their first win against a 'Power' opponent in a season opener since defeating Illinois in the 2010-11 campaign.

Illinois State has been successful in recent season openers, winning their third consecutive opener on the road. They have improved to five wins out of eight openers under Gillespie's leadership.

Shannon Dowell's performance at Northwestern places her among notable players like Mary Crompton and Simone Goods who have scored over 20 points in a season opener during Gillespie's tenure.

For more information about tickets and other updates regarding Illinois State athletics, fans can visit GoRedbirds.com or use the Illinois State Redbirds App.