McLean County Times

Illinois State University's women's basketball team is set to host Western Illinois in the second round of the 2025 Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) at CEFCU Arena. The game will take place on Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase online, with prices set at $12 for the general public and $7 for students and youth. The first 100 Illinois State students will receive free admission.

The victor of this matchup will move forward to face either Central Arkansas or Abilene Christian in the WNIT Super 16, with details regarding date, time, and location to be announced later.

This marks Illinois State's 16th appearance in the WNIT and its fourth under head coach Kristen Gillespie. The Redbirds have been consistent contenders, securing a spot in the tournament for three consecutive seasons. Since 2000, they hold a record of 16-10 in the WNIT, including a recent victory over Charleston that led them to last year's Super 16.

Under Gillespie's leadership, Illinois State has earned postseason bids for five straight years, including participation in the 2022 NCAA Tournament. This achievement is only surpassed by their seven consecutive postseason appearances from 2007 to 2013.

The Redbirds have dominated their series against Western Illinois, holding a commanding lead of 43-4 overall. Their last encounter was in 2020 when Illinois State secured an emphatic win.

Facing their eleventh in-state opponent this season, Illinois State boasts a strong record against local teams. They have achieved a notable success rate of winning games against fellow state teams since the start of the 2019-2020 season.

Several players from Illinois State received recognition for their performances during the regular season. Shannon Dowell was named to the All-MVC second team after averaging nearly 17 points per game. Elyce Knudsen and Addison Martin were both honored on the MVC Newcomer Team, while Doneelah Washington made it onto the MVC Freshman team.

Dowell also reached a significant milestone by surpassing 500 points this season—a feat accomplished by only two other players before her sophomore year in program history: Kristi Cirone and Cathy Boswell.

For more information on tickets and other athletic events at Illinois State University, fans can visit GoRedbirds.com or use the Illinois State Redbirds App.