McLean County Times

Illinois State University's women's basketball team experienced a challenging game against Harvard University, ending with a 72-62 loss at CEFCU Arena. The Redbirds, now holding a 2-2 record, made an impressive effort to close the gap after trailing by 15 points in the first half.

Elyce Knudsen was a standout player for Illinois State, scoring 20 points and hitting five out of seven three-point attempts. She also contributed six rebounds. Shannon Dowell added 15 points, two rebounds, and one assist. Nevaeh Thomas scored 12 points and led the game with eight rebounds, adding two assists and one steal to her performance.

Harvard established an early lead in the first quarter with a score of 24-9, showcasing strong three-point shooting. Despite Illinois State's efforts to reduce the deficit with a nine-point run in the second quarter, Harvard maintained their lead into halftime at 37-25.

The Redbirds continued their comeback attempt in the third quarter with a 10-4 run. Knudsen's successful three-pointers helped narrow the gap to just four points at one stage. However, Harvard managed to keep ahead throughout the final quarter despite Illinois State tying the game at 56 points following Dowell's free throws.

This match marked Knudsen's second consecutive game scoring over 15 points since joining Illinois State. The team's overall home performance remains strong despite this being only their third loss at CEFCU Arena over two seasons.

Historically, Illinois State has struggled against Ivy League teams, now standing at an all-time record of 0-5 following this defeat.

GoRedbirds.com continues to offer resources for fans seeking tickets and merchandise related to Illinois State athletics.