McLean County Times

Nevaeh Thomas led the Illinois State women's basketball team to a decisive victory over Indiana State with a career-high 25 points. The game, held at CEFCU Arena, ended with a score of 96-69, marking Illinois State's seventh win of the season.

Thomas was one of two Redbirds to score over 20 points in the game. Shannon Dowell contributed 20 points, maintaining her streak of high-scoring games. Thomas added four assists to her performance and scored 15 points in the second half alone. Dowell evenly split her scoring between both halves.

Doneelah Washington achieved her first career double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, seven of which were offensive. Elyce Knudsen also made significant contributions by scoring all 13 of her points in the first half.

The Redbirds took control after a close first quarter, outscoring Indiana State by 28-9 in the second quarter and leading by halftime. They maintained their lead throughout the second half despite Indiana State's attempts to close the gap.

Illinois State's victory marks their eleventh consecutive win over Indiana State, continuing a streak that began in 2019. The team has now won six straight games against Indiana State at home.

Thomas is now among a select group of players in the Kristen Gillespie era who have recorded multiple double-doubles with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. Dowell continues to impress with consecutive games scoring over 20 points.

The team's shooting accuracy was notable, achieving over 50% from the floor for two consecutive games—a first for them under Coach Gillespie during league play. Washington joins an exclusive list of freshmen who have posted double-doubles since the 2009-10 season.

The Redbirds have consistently had multiple players score in double figures this season, demonstrating their depth and versatility on offense. Their performance against Indiana State marked their highest point total against a conference opponent since at least the 2009-10 season.