McLean County Times

Illinois State University's women's basketball team aims to continue their winning streak as they prepare for two important matchups this week. The Redbirds, currently standing at 16-9 overall and 10-4 in the conference, will host Belmont on Thursday evening at CEFCU Arena. This game is themed as a 'Blackout,' with fans encouraged to wear black, and the first 600 students will receive a replica black jersey.

Belmont holds a slight advantage in the series history against Illinois State, leading 2-1. Last season, Belmont won both encounters after Illinois State secured a victory in their first meeting during the 2022-23 season.

On Sunday, Illinois State will face Bradley for their 88th all-time meeting. The Redbirds lead this series with a significant margin of 58-29 and are currently enjoying a nine-game winning streak over Bradley.

Elyce Knudsen has been recognized as the MVC Newcomer of the Week for her performances last week, marking her third such honor this year. She averaged 16 points and 4.5 rebounds per game over two games, helping secure victories against Indiana State and Evansville.

Graduate guard Maya Wong achieved notable milestones recently by setting a new program record for career games played at Illinois State with her appearance in her 146th game. Additionally, she surpassed the milestone of 500 career assists.

The Redbirds have maintained an undefeated record of 6-0 against in-state opponents this year and have shown dominance over other teams from Illinois since the start of the 2019-2020 season.

For more information about tickets and merchandise related to Illinois State athletics, fans can visit GoRedbirds.com or use the official app.