McLean County Times

Illinois State University's women's basketball team is set to face Saint Francis at CEFCU Arena on Thursday, marking the annual Education Day event. The game will see participation from over 6,000 elementary students from Central Illinois. The Redbirds, currently holding a 4-3 record, will play against the Fighting Saints, who have a 7-1 record.

This matchup follows last season's inaugural meeting between the two teams, where Illinois State secured an 89-51 victory. In that game, newcomer Caroline Waite led with 19 points, including a strong third quarter performance with four three-pointers. Shannon Dowell also contributed significantly with her first double-digit scoring game.

The Redbirds have shown dominance against in-state opponents since the start of the 2019-2020 season, boasting a 36-9 record and an impressive 20-2 at home in CEFCU Arena. Their recent win against Northwestern added to their streak of victories over in-state rivals.

In recent achievements within the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC), Elyce Knudsen was named MVC Newcomer of the Week and Doneelah Washington received MVC Freshman of the Week honors. Knudsen's performance at the Gulf Coast Showcase included an average of 14.6 points per game and a career-high of 23 points against New Mexico State. Washington also made strides by reaching double figures for consecutive games for the first time in her college career.

Illinois State's shooting efficiency has been notable this season despite being seventh in field goal attempts within the MVC. They lead with a shooting percentage of 49.1% and are ranked 19th nationally in Division I basketball.

For more information on tickets and other athletic events at Illinois State University, fans can visit GoRedbirds.com or use the Illinois State Redbirds App.