McLean County Times

Shannon Dowell and Elyce Knudsen combined efforts to propel Illinois State University's women's basketball team into the WNIT Super 16. The Redbirds secured a 90-80 victory over Western Illinois, advancing their record to 22-12 for the season.

Illinois State will face the winner of the Abilene Christian versus Central Arkansas game in the next round. Details regarding the date, time, and location of this matchup are yet to be confirmed.

Dowell led her team with 28 points, scoring half of them in the fourth quarter alone. Knudsen added 23 points, including five three-pointers and a season-high eight rebounds. Maya Wong contributed 15 points, while Nevaeh Thomas and Addison Martin each scored 12.

The Redbirds showcased an impressive shooting performance, achieving a field goal percentage of 54.7% and hitting 52.5% from beyond the arc with eleven successful three-point shots.

In terms of gameplay progression, Illinois State initially trailed by four points after the first quarter but managed to take a five-point lead at halftime following strong performances by Dowell and Thomas. Despite Western Illinois closing in during the fourth quarter, Martin's critical scoring helped secure Illinois State's victory.

The win marks Illinois State's fifteenth consecutive triumph against an in-state opponent at CEFCU Arena. Since 2019-2020, they have maintained a dominant record against such teams.

Notably, Dowell is on track to break into her program’s top five single-season scorers list with just three more points needed. Meanwhile, Knudsen has joined elite company within the program for making over eighty three-pointers in a single season.

Illinois State tied its postseason record for most threes made in a game during NCAA or WNIT tournaments with eleven successful attempts.