McLean County Times

Illinois State women's basketball team faced a challenging match on Sunday, suffering a loss against Drake University. The game, held at CEFCU Arena, ended with Illinois State falling to the MVC-leading Drake Bulldogs 85-64.

Drake took an early lead in the first quarter with a score of 20-9, which Illinois State struggled to overcome. Despite a promising 15-4 run that brought them within four points at 24-20, highlighted by three-pointers from Elyce Knudsen and Maya Wong, the Redbirds could not maintain momentum. The Bulldogs extended their lead to 36-25 in the second quarter and maintained control for the remainder of the game.

A notable moment for Illinois State came from freshman Trista Fayta, who made an impressive half-court shot at the third-quarter buzzer. Three players from Illinois State scored in double figures: Shannon Dowell led with 14 points, while Addi Martin and Doneelah Washington each contributed 12 points. Martin also recorded eight rebounds and Washington six.

Shannon Dowell's performance marked her fifth double-digit scoring game in Valley play this season and her fifteenth overall. She is currently averaging 20 points per game in MVC competition. The team's shooting percentage dropped below 40% for only the second time this season during conference play.

Maya Wong played her 137th career game on Sunday, placing her second in program history for games played. Additionally, Doneelah Washington stood out as the only freshman achieving over ten points, five rebounds, and two assists in a single Valley game this season.

For more information about tickets and other resources related to Illinois State athletics, visit GoRedbirds.com or use the Illinois State Redbirds App.