McLean County Times

Elyce Knudsen and Addison Martin led the Illinois State women's basketball team to a 78-60 victory over Southern Illinois at CEFCU Arena. Knudsen scored 25 points, marking her third consecutive game with over 20 points. She achieved this by shooting 11-for-19 from the field and making three out of nine attempts from beyond the arc.

Martin contributed significantly in the first half, scoring 20 points and finishing with a total of 23 points. Her performance included an impressive 9-for-11 shooting accuracy, along with seven rebounds and three assists. This was her first time scoring over 20 points as a Redbird.

The Redbirds gained an early lead of 19-14 after the first quarter and expanded their advantage in the second quarter, outscoring the Salukis by 12 points. The team ended the first half on a strong note with a 20-5 run, largely thanks to Martin's nine points and Knudsen's seven.

Despite Southern Illinois narrowing the gap to within 11 points in the fourth quarter, Illinois State responded with a decisive 6-0 run that secured their win.

Illinois State has shown consistent success against in-state rivals since the start of the 2019-2020 season, boasting a record of 41-9. At home inside CEFCU Arena, they have won all six games against in-state teams this season.

The Redbirds managed to secure this victory despite being outrebounded by Southern Illinois, marking only their second win under such circumstances this season. They also forced a season-high of 22 turnovers during the game.

Doneelah Washington recorded her twentieth block of the season, setting a record for Redbird freshmen since 1987. Martin joined an elite group under coach Kristen Gillespie by scoring over twenty points while maintaining an eighty percent shooting rate or better.

For more information about Illinois State sports events and merchandise, visit GoRedbirds.com or use the Illinois State Redbirds App.