McLean County Times

Illinois State University's women's basketball team is set to conclude its regular season with away games against Missouri State and Southern Illinois. The Redbirds, holding a 19-10 overall record and 13-5 in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC), will face Missouri State on Thursday and Southern Illinois on Saturday.

In their history against Missouri State, the Bears lead with a 50-37 margin. However, Illinois State recently secured a victory over them in February with a score of 66-55, led by Shannon Dowell's 22 points. This upcoming game marks their 87th meeting and will be the last MVC encounter as Missouri State transitions to Conference-USA after this season.

Against Southern Illinois, Illinois State has an all-time lead of 68-46, having won their last six encounters. Their previous meeting in January ended with a 78-60 win for the Redbirds, where Elyce Knudsen scored 25 points and Addison Martin added another 23.

Elyce Knudsen was named MVC Newcomer of the Week for the fourth time this season. She averaged 17 points, five rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game recently while maintaining impressive shooting percentages. Her performance included scoring double figures in both games last week, notably achieving her fourth game of over 20 points during MVC play.

The Redbirds have faced nine in-state opponents this season, maintaining a strong record against them since the start of the 2019-2020 campaign. They boast a current record of 42-10 against these teams.

Freshman Doneelah Washington recorded her 29th block of the year against Valparaiso, placing her second on Illinois State's freshman single-season block list since 1987. She leads Valley freshmen with blocks in MVC play.

Rebounding has been another strength for Illinois State this season as they have out-rebounded opponents in most games, including recent victories where they held significant advantages on the glass.

For more information about tickets and other details related to Illinois State sports events, fans can visit GoRedbirds.com or use the Illinois State Redbirds App.