McLean County Times

Illinois State women's basketball team faced a challenging start to their Missouri Valley Conference play, falling 91-80 to Murray State on Sunday. Shannon Dowell was a standout for the Redbirds, matching her career high with 28 points, achieved through consistent scoring in both halves of the game.

Dowell's efforts were complemented by strong performances from teammates Addison Martin, Elyce Knudsen, and Nevaeh Thomas. Martin added 14 points, including a productive second half, while Knudsen and Thomas contributed 12 and 10 points respectively. Thomas narrowly missed a double-double with eight rebounds.

The game saw Illinois State initially struggle, trailing after the first quarter but rallying with a significant run in the second quarter to lead 37-29 at one point. Despite this effort, Murray State regained control in the third quarter and maintained their advantage throughout the remainder of the match.

Despite shooting an impressive 58.9% from the field and marking their fourth game shooting over 50% this season, Illinois State could not overcome Murray State's late-game surge. This loss places Illinois State at a balanced record of six wins and six losses for the season.

Illinois State has consistently featured multiple players scoring in double figures this season, achieving this feat in ten out of twelve games so far. Dowell's performance was notable as it marked her third time scoring over 20 points this season.

For more information on Illinois State athletics, visit GoRedbirds.com or download the Illinois State Redbirds App for tickets and updates.