McLean County Times

Illinois State women's basketball team secured a victory against New Mexico State in the Gulf Coast Showcase at Hertz Arena, Estero, Florida. The Redbirds won 82-66, closing their trip with a 2-1 record in Florida.

Elyce Knudsen was pivotal for Illinois State, contributing 20 points in the second half alone. She scored 18 of those points in the final moments of the game and ended with a total of 23 points. This marked her second performance exceeding 20 points this season. Shannon Dowell also achieved her second 20-point game of the season, scoring 21 points and leading Illinois State with six rebounds.

Addi Martin and Nevaeh Thomas supported Illinois State's offense by adding 12 and 10 points respectively. The Redbirds were behind at one point but managed to outscore New Mexico State by eight consecutive points to conclude the third quarter.

Knudsen initiated the fourth quarter strongly, scoring seven additional points and securing a lead for Illinois State. The team's advantage grew to as many as 16 points towards the end of the game.

The Redbirds showcased four players with double-digit scores for their third consecutive game this season. Over recent seasons, they have consistently achieved multiple games where several players scored in double figures.

The matchup against New Mexico State marked Illinois State's first encounter with them and resulted in an impressive win for the Redbirds. Their score of 82 was not only a high for this game but also represented just their second time reaching over 80 points this season.

Illinois State recorded season-best shooting percentages: hitting nearly 60% from the field and achieving an impressive free throw success rate of 80%.

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