Illinois State Women's Basketball Previews Matchup Against Green Bay

Illinois State Women’s Basketball Previews Matchup Against Green Bay

by

Illinois State hosts Green Bay in Mid-Major clash

The Illinois State Redbirds enter Wednesday night’s matchup against the Green Bay Phoenix with a perfect 3-0 record, looking to maintain momentum at CEFCU Arena.

Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT, with the contest available for viewing on ESPN+.

This non-conference meeting features two programs recognized in the Mid-Major Top 25 poll. According to goredbirds.com, Green Bay holds a 6-2 lead in the all-time series against Illinois State, having won the last two encounters between the programs.

The Redbirds are riding a wave of recent success following a dramatic 91-87 overtime victory against Dayton. After trailing by 11 points in the fourth quarter, Illinois State executed a 14-0 run to reclaim the lead and eventually secure the win in extra time.

Redbirds lean on standout individual performances

Trista Fayta anchored the recent comeback against Dayton, recording a career-high 28 points. Fayta’s performance included 10-of-16 shooting from the field, eight assists, and eight rebounds. She is currently the only player in the country this season to post at least 28 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists in a single game.

Transfer Hannah Chicken has also emerged as a central figure in the Redbirds’ undefeated start. Chicken is averaging a double-double with 16.0 points and 10.3 rebounds through the first three games. Her recent output includes 19 points and 13 rebounds against Dayton, followed by 20 points and 12 rebounds in a 96-54 win over Augustana.

Vector color map of illinois state usa ccemgc

Nevaeh Thomas has provided consistent scoring, marking her second consecutive game with 20-plus points. Thomas scored 20 points in the overtime win at Dayton, making her the first Redbird to start a season with back-to-back 20-point performances since the 2012-13 campaign.

The depth of the Illinois State roster was evident in their season opener against Chicago State, where the team scored 106 points. Several key contributors helped the scoring:

Player Points Scored Notable Stat
Nevaeh Thomas 23 Season opener high
Grace Nelson 21 5 three-pointers made
Danyella Mporokoso 16 Collegiate debut
Kennedy Stowers 13 Double-double in debut

Green Bay brings a new-look roster to Normal

The Phoenix arrive in Normal following a mixed start to their season, sitting at 1-1. Their recent outings included a 76-60 loss to No. 4 Duke and an 82-48 win over Loyola Chicago.

Green Bay is changing its roster after graduating five seniors who accounted for 48.5 percent of the team's scoring last season. The current squad features three transfers and four freshmen, representing the program’s largest freshman class since 2021.

The Phoenix roster is notable for having two pairs of siblings. The freshman twins Ady and Riley Ketterhagen and the returning sisters Julianna and Kristina Ouimette make Green Bay one of only two programs in the country with two sets of sisters on the roster.

Madd Skorupski currently leads the Green Bay scoring effort, averaging 15.0 points per game. The Phoenix were ranked as the top team in the Mid-Major Top 25 poll prior to the start of the season, following a 25-9 campaign that included a Horizon League Championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance.

The stakes for the Missouri Valley Conference

Illinois State enters the week as the preseason second pick in the Missouri Valley Conference women’s basketball poll, earning 396 points. Murray State was the preseason favorite, receiving 41 of 44 first-place votes.

The Redbirds’ recent trajectory follows a period of sustained success under head coach Kristen Gillespie. The program secured its fourth consecutive 20-win season during the 2025-26 campaign, a feat not achieved by the program since the period between 2007 and 2011.

The matchup serves as a critical litmus test for both programs’ ability to compete with high-level mid-major opponents. While Illinois State looks to validate their undefeated start, Green Bay seeks to stabilize their season after a difficult opening loss to a top-ranked Duke squad.

The next scheduled action for Illinois State following Wednesday’s game remains part of their non-conference slate as they build toward conference play.

Related reading

Read next