McLean County Times

Illinois State women's basketball team faced a challenging game against Bradley, resulting in a 70-65 loss at the Renaissance Coliseum. Despite an early 9-0 run, Illinois State (17-10, 11-5 MVC) could not maintain their lead against Bradley (11-16, 5-11 MVC).

Shannon Dowell stood out for Illinois State with her fourth double-double of the season, scoring 19 points and securing 13 rebounds. Dowell's performance was pivotal in the second half as she contributed 14 points to help the Redbirds overcome a ten-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Her efforts brought Illinois State to a brief lead of 59-58 with just over two minutes remaining.

Addison Martin added 15 points and nine rebounds, while Elyce Knudsen and Maya Wong each scored ten points. Martin led the first half for Illinois State with eleven points.

The game began with threes from Wong and Knudsen, helping Illinois State to an early advantage. However, Bradley responded with a strong finish to the first quarter, leading 28-16 going into the second.

Illinois State managed to close the gap several times but did not regain the lead until Dowell's crucial play in the fourth quarter. Despite this effort, Bradley regained control and maintained their lead until the end.

In terms of rebounding, Illinois State had a slight edge over Bradley with a 36-31 advantage. Freshman Doneelah Washington made her mark defensively by recording her 28th block of the season.

Throughout this season, Illinois State has consistently performed well when multiple players score in double figures. The team has achieved this feat in nineteen games during this campaign.

For more information on tickets and other related content, fans can visit GoRedbirds.com or use the Illinois State Redbirds App.