McLean County Times

Illinois State University's women's basketball team is set to face Abilene Christian for the first time in the WNIT Super 16 at Shirk Center. Both teams share identical records of 22-12, with Illinois State boasting a 14-6 record in the Missouri Valley Conference and Abilene Christian holding a 9-7 record in the Western Athletic Conference.

The winner of this matchup will advance to play either Lindenwood or Louisiana Tech in the WNIT Great 8. The details regarding the time, date, and location of that game are yet to be announced.

Tickets for the event are available on goredbirds.com/tickets, priced at $12 for general admission and $7 for students and youth. Fans can purchase tickets using credit cards at the venue. Parking is provided east of Shirk Center or across from it, with entry through either Emerson Street or the east parking lot entrance. Doors open at 5 p.m., and those unable to attend can follow live coverage on WJBC 1230 AM, Varsity Network, GoRedbirds.com, or stream via YouTube.

Under head coach Kristen Gillespie's leadership, Illinois State has secured its fifth consecutive postseason bid. This streak includes a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2022 and marks only their second instance since entering NCAA competition that they have achieved five straight postseason appearances.

This year marks Illinois State's fourth trip to the WNIT under Gillespie's guidance and their third consecutive season participating in this tournament. Since 2000, Illinois State holds a 17-10 overall record in WNIT games and boasts a strong home performance with a 14-3 record during this period.

Notable performances include Shannon Dowell scoring 28 points alongside Elyce Knudsen's contribution of 23 points against Western Illinois—setting a new benchmark for combined scoring by two Redbirds players in postseason history. Additionally, Knudsen's impressive tally of three-pointers places her among an elite group within program history.

Shannon Dowell has also made significant strides this season with her scoring achievements placing her sixth on Illinois State’s all-time single-season list. She is poised to climb higher if she surpasses Katie Donovan’s previous mark.

Maya Wong is expected to break another program record by making her 133rd career start Thursday night—a testament to her enduring presence on court throughout her college career at Illinois State University.

Further information about tickets and related services can be accessed through GoRedbirds.com or via their official app.