McLean County Times

Illinois State women's basketball team secured a decisive victory over Southern Illinois in the opening round of the Credit Union 1 MVC Women's Basketball Tournament. The game took place at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana, where Illinois State triumphed with an 88-48 win.

The Redbirds were led by standout performances from Shannon Dowell and Caroline Waite. Dowell scored all 23 of her points in the first half, achieving a perfect record from the free throw line with 11-for-11 and contributing four rebounds and two assists. Waite added 20 points to the scoreboard, making six out of seven three-point attempts.

Nevaeah Thomas also contributed significantly with 12 points, marking her 26th double-figure game this season for Illinois State. The team's strong performance was evident as they outscored Southern Illinois 27-9 in the second quarter alone.

Illinois State's dominance continued throughout the game, culminating in their largest margin of victory in program history at an MVC Tournament. "Shannon Dowell surpassed 500 points for the season," joining an elite group within the program's history.

With this victory, Illinois State advanced to face No.4 seed Drake on Friday afternoon. This win also marked Illinois State's improvement to a record of 9-1 against in-state foes this season and their eighth consecutive win over Southern Illinois.

"Waite's mark of 85.7% from deep ranks fourth in MVC Tournament history," highlighting her exceptional shooting performance during the tournament.

The Redbirds' defense limited Southern Illinois to just 48 points, which is noted as "the lowest for a Redbird opponent this season."

This match adds to Illinois State's historical success at the MVC Tournament, improving their overall record to 29-27 as a program at these events.