2021–22 Illinois State Redbirds women's basketball team
{{short description|Intercollegiate basketball season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA team season
|mode = Women's basketball
|year = 2021–22
|prev_year = 2020–21
|next_year = 2022–23
|team = Illinois State Redbirds
|image = Illinois State Redbirds Wordmark.png
|image_size =
|conference = Missouri Valley Conference
|division =
|short_conf =
|CoachRank =
|APRank =
|record = 19–14
|conf_record = 12–6
|head_coach = Kristen Gillespie
|hc_year = 5th
|asst_coach1 = Jessica Keller
|ac1_year = 5th
|asst_coach2 = Scott Gillespie
|ac2_year = 5th
|asst_coach3 = Mariyah Brawner-Henley
|ac3_year = 4th
|stadium = Redbird Arena
|champion = Missouri Valley Tournament Champions
|bowl = NCAA tournament
|bowl_result = first round
}}
{{2021–22 Missouri Valley Conference women's basketball standings}}
The 2021–22 Illinois State Redbirds women's basketball team represented Illinois State University during the 2021–22 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Redbirds, led by fifth-year head coach Kristen Gillespie, played their home games at the Redbird Arena as members of the Missouri Valley Conference.
They finished the season with a 19–14 overall record, 12–6 in conference play to finish in fourth place. As the fourth seed in the Missouri Valley Tournament, they earned a bye into the Quarterfinals and defeated Loyola–Chicago, Southern Illinois, and Northern Iowa to win the championship. They received an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, where they were the fifteenth seed in the Greensboro Region. They lost to second seed Iowa in the First Round to end their season.
Previous season
The Redbirds finished the season with a 16–9 overall record, 12–6 in Missouri Valley play to finish in third place. As the third seed in the Missouri Valley Tournament, they earned a bye into the Quarterfinals where they lost to Loyola–Chicago. They received an at-large bid to the WNIT, where they lost to Tulane in the First Round, defeated Samford in the Consolation Semifinal and lost to UT Martin in the Consolation Final.
Roster
{{CBB roster/Header|year=2021|team=Illinois State Redbirds|teamcolors=y|sex=w|high_school=y}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Jada|last=Stinson|link=|num=0|pos=G|ft=5|in=8|class=GS|rs=|home=Fayetteville, NC|high_school=Elizabethtown
Arkansas State}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Jasmine|last=McGinnis-Taylor|link=|num=1|pos=F|ft=6|in=3|class=SO|rs=|home=Omaha, NE|high_school=Westside}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Mary|last=Crompton|link=|num=3|pos=G|ft=5|in=8|class=JR|rs=y|home=Iowa City, IA|high_school=Regina}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Lauren|last=Cohen|link=|num=4|pos=G|ft=5|in=8|class=FR|rs=|home=Wheaton, IL|high_school=Glenbard South}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Lexy|last=Koudelka|link=|num=5|pos=F|ft=6|in=2|class=SR|rs=|home=Nevada, IA|high_school=Nevada}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Kenzie|last=Bowers|link=|num=11|pos=G|ft=5|in=9|class=FR|rs=|home=Kent City, MI|high_school=Kent City}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Maya|last=Wong|link=|num=12|pos=G|ft=5|in=8|class=SO|rs=y|home=Normal, IL|high_school=Normal Community}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Kayel|last=Newland|link=|num=13|pos=G|ft=5|in=10|class=SR|rs=|home=Kansas City, MO|high_school=Liberty}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Chloe|last=van Zeeland|link=|num=22|pos=F|ft=6|in=1|class=FR|rs=|home=Kaukauna, WI|high_school=Kaukauna}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Juliunn|last=Redmond|link=|num=23|pos=G|ft=5|in=11|class=GS|rs=|home=Chicago, IL|high_school=John Marshall
Tallahassee CC}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Deanna|last=Wilson|link=|num=24|pos=F|ft=6|in=2|class=JR|rs=|home=St. Louis, MO|high_school=Cardinal Ritter
Moberly Area CC}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Lexi|last=Boles|link=|num=25|pos=F/C|ft=6|in=3|class=FR|rs=|home=Des Moines, IA|high_school=Dowling Catholic}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Kate|last=Bullman|link=|num=32|pos=F|ft=6|in=2|class=SO|rs=|home=Grayslake, IL|high_school=Grayslake Central}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Hannah|last=Kelle|link=|num=33|pos=F|ft=6|in=1|class=JR|rs=|home=Lincoln, NE|high_school=Lincoln Southwest}}
{{CBB roster/Footer
|head_coach=
- Kristen Gillespie ({{college|NC State}})
|asst_coach=
- Jessica Keller ({{college|Quincy}})
- Scott Gillespie ({{college|Ripon}})
- Mariyah Brawner-Henley ({{college|Lewis}})
|roster_url=https://goredbirds.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/2021-22
|accessdate=May 17, 2022}}
Schedule
{{CBB schedule start|time=yes|rank=yes|tv=yes|record=yes|attend=yes|ranklink=2021-22 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings|rankyear=2021}}
|-
!colspan=6 style={{NCAA color cell|Illinois State Redbirds}}| Exhibition
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 3, 2021
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = UMSL
| site_stadium = Redbird Arena
| site_cityst = Normal, IL
| attend = 363
| score = 64–53
| record = –
}}
|-
!colspan=6 style={{NCAA color cell|Illinois State Redbirds}}| Non-Conference Regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 9, 2021
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = {{cbb link|2021|sex=women|team=Northern Illinois Huskies|title=Northern Illinois}}
| site_stadium = NIU Convocation Center
| site_cityst = DeKalb, IL
| attend = 432
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 60–77
| record = 0–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 13, 2021
| time = 1:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = {{cbb link|2021|sex=women|team=St. Thomas (Minnesota) Tommies|title=St. Thomas}}
| site_stadium = Schoenecker Arena
| site_cityst = Saint Paul, MN
| attend = 400
| score = 70–55
| record = 1–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 17, 2021
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Purdue
| site_stadium = Redbird Arena
| site_cityst = Normal, IL
| attend = 672
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 64–76
| record = 1–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 20, 2021
| time = 2:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = {{cbb link|2021|sex=women|team=UT Martin Skyhawks|title=UT Martin}}
| site_stadium = Skyhawk Arena
| site_cityst = Martin, TN
| attend = 1,131
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 52–54
| record = 1–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 26, 2021
| time = 4:30 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = {{cbb link|2021|sex=women|team=UC Irvine Anteaters|title=UC Irvine}}
| site_stadium = Bren Events Center
| site_cityst = Irvine, CA
| gamename = UCI Thanksgiving Classic
| attend = 277
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 55–67
| record = 1–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 27, 2021
| time = 4:30 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| neutral = yes
| opponent = {{cbb link|2021|sex=women|team=Sacramento State Hornets|title=Sacramento State}}
| site_stadium = Bren Events Center
| site_cityst = Irvine, CA
| gamename = UCI Thanksgiving Classic
| attend = 186
| score = 63–65
| record = 1–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 1, 2021
| time = 11:00 a.m.
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = {{cbb link|2021|sex=women|team=Missouri Baptist Spartans|title=Missouri Baptist}}
| site_stadium = Redbird Arena
| site_cityst = Normal, IL
| attend = 1,549
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 91–42
| record = 2–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 5, 2021
| time = 2:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Dayton
| site_stadium = Redbird Arena
| site_cityst = Normal, IL
| attend = 568
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 67–78
| record = 2–6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 11, 2021
| time = 1:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = {{cbb link|2021|sex=women|team=SIU Edwardsville Cougars|title=SIUE}}
| site_stadium = Vadalabene Center
| site_cityst = Edwardsville, IL
| attend = 150
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 80–71
| record = 3–6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 16, 2021
| time = 6:30 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = Wisconsin
| site_stadium = Kohl Center
| site_cityst = Madison, WI
| attend = 2,150
| tv = BTN+
| score = 60–70
| record = 3–7
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 20, 2021
| time = 1:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = {{cbb link|2021|sex=women|team=Saint Louis Billikens|title=Saint Louis}}
| site_stadium = Redbird Arena
| site_cityst = Normal, IL
| attend = 366
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 77–66
| record = 4–7
}}
|-
!colspan=6 style={{NCAA color cell|Illinois State Redbirds}}| Missouri Valley Regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 1, 2022
| time = 2:00 p.m.
| opponent = Bradley
| site_stadium = Redbird Arena
| site_cityst = Normal, IL
| tv = ESPN3
| attend = 312
| score = 64–57
| record = 5–7
| conference = 1–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 7, 2022
| time = 5:00 p.m.
| away = yes
| opponent = Indiana State
| site_stadium = Hulman Center
| site_cityst = Terre Haute, IN
| tv = ESPN+
| attend = 1,112
| score = 66–58
| record = 6–7
| conference = 2–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 9, 2022
| time = 1:00 p.m.
| away = yes
| opponent = Evansville
| site_stadium = Meeks Family Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Evansville, IN
| tv = ESPN+
| attend = 222
| score = 87–68
| record = 7–7
| conference = 3–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 13, 2022
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| opponent = Valparaiso
| site_stadium = Redbird Arena
| site_cityst = Normal, IL
| tv = ESPN+
| attend = 316
| score = 65–49
| record = 8–7
| conference = 4–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 15, 2022
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| opponent = Loyola–Chicago
| site_stadium = Redbird Arena
| site_cityst = Normal, IL
| tv = ESPN3
| attend = 703
| score = 68–50
| record = 9–7
| conference = 5–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 20, 2022
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| away = yes
| opponent = Southern Illinois
| site_stadium = SIU Arena
| site_cityst = Carbondale, IL
| tv = ESPN+
| attend = 317
| score = 47–56
| record = 9–8
| conference = 5–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 22, 2022
| time = 2:00 p.m.
| away = yes
| opponent = Missouri State
| site_stadium = JQH Arena
| site_cityst = Springfield, MO
| tv = ESPN+
| attend = 2,036
| score = 52–51
| record = 10–8
| conference = 6–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 27, 2022
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| opponent = Northern Iowa
| site_stadium = Redbird Arena
| site_cityst = Normal, IL
| tv = ESPN+
| attend = 824
| score = 67–74
| record = 10–9
| conference = 6–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 29, 2022
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| opponent = Drake
| site_stadium = Redbird Arena
| site_cityst = Normal, IL
| tv = ESPN+
| attend = 1,480
| score = 70–58
| record = 11–9
| conference = 7–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 4, 2022
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| opponent = Evansville
| site_stadium = Redbird Arena
| site_cityst = Normal, IL
| tv = ESPN+
| attend = 504
| score = 75–60
| record = 12–9
| conference = 8–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 6, 2022
| time = 2:00 p.m.
| opponent = Indiana State
| site_stadium = Redbird Arena
| site_cityst = Normal, IL
| tv = ESPN+
| attend = 656
| score = 72–64
| record = 13–9
| conference = 9–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 10, 2022
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| away = yes
| opponent = Loyola–Chicago
| site_stadium = Joseph J. Gentile Arena
| site_cityst = Chicago, IL
| tv = ESPN+
| attend = 327
| score = 57–53
| record = 14–9
| conference = 10–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 12, 2022
| time = 1:00 p.m.
| away = yes
| opponent = Valparaiso
| site_stadium = Athletics–Recreation Center
| site_cityst = Valparaiso, IN
| tv = ESPN3
| attend = 388
| score = 85–80
| record = 15–9
| conference = 11–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 18, 2022
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| opponent = Missouri State
| site_stadium = Redbird Arena
| site_cityst = Normal, IL
| tv = ESPN+
| attend = 735
| score = 67–75
| record = 15–10
| conference = 11–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 20, 2022
| time = 2:00 p.m.
| opponent = Southern Illinois
| site_stadium = Redbird Arena
| site_cityst = Normal, IL
| tv = ESPN+
| attend = 1,039
| score = 49–65
| record = 15–11
| conference = 11–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 25, 2022
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| away = yes
| opponent = Drake
| site_stadium = Knapp Center
| site_cityst = Des Moines, IA
| tv = ESPN+
| attend = 2,261
| score = 62–104
| record = 15–12
| conference = 11–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 27, 2022
| time = 2:00 p.m.
| away = yes
| opponent = Northern Iowa
| site_stadium = McLeod Center
| site_cityst = Cedar Falls, IA
| tv = ESPN+
| attend = 1,333
| score = 63–70
| record = 15–13
| conference = 11–6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 5, 2022
| time = 2:00 p.m.
| away = yes
| opponent = Bradley
| site_stadium = Renaissance Coliseum
| site_cityst = Peoria, IL
| tv = ESPN+
| attend = 626
| score = 62–53
| record = 16–13
| conference = 12–6
}}
|-
!colspan=6 style={{NCAA color cell|Illinois State Redbirds}}| 2022 Missouri Valley Conference women's basketball tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 11, 2022
| time = 2:30 p.m.
| neutral = yes
| seed = 4
| opponent = Loyola–Chicago
| oppseed = 5
| site_stadium = TaxSlayer Center
| site_cityst = Moline, IL
| gamename = Quarterfinals
| attend = 0
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 68–52
| record = 17–13
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 12, 2022
| time = 1:30 p.m.
| neutral = yes
| seed = 4
| opponent = Southern Illinois
| oppseed = 1
| site_stadium = TaxSlayer Center
| site_cityst = Moline, IL
| gamename = Semifinals
| attend = 0
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 50–42
| record = 18–13
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 13, 2022
| time = 1:00 p.m.
| neutral = yes
| seed = 4
| opponent = Northern Iowa
| oppseed = 3
| site_stadium = TaxSlayer Center
| site_cityst = Moline, IL
| gamename = Final
| attend = 1,392
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 50–48
| record = 19–13
}}
|-
!colspan=6 style={{NCAA color cell|Illinois State Redbirds}}| 2022 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 18, 2022
| time = 3:00 p.m.
| away = yes
| seed = 15 G
| opponent = Iowa
| oppseed = 2 G
| opprank = 8
| site_stadium = Carver–Hawkeye Arena
| site_cityst = Iowa City, IA
| gamename = First Round
| attend = 14,382
| tv = ESPN
| score = 58–98
| record = 19–14
}}
{{CBB schedule end|poll=AP Poll|timezone=Central Time|region=G|regionname=Greensboro}}
Rankings
{{main|2021–22 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings}}
{{Ranking movements
| poll1title = AP
| poll1firstweek = 0
| poll1lastweek = 18
| poll1_0= NR
| poll1_1= NR
| poll1_2= NR
| poll1_3= NR
| poll1_4= NR
| poll1_5= NR
| poll1_6= NR
| poll1_7= NR
| poll1_8= NR
| poll1_9= NR
| poll1_10= NR
| poll1_11= NR
| poll1_12= NR
| poll1_13= NR
| poll1_14= NR
| poll1_15= NR
| poll1_16= NR
| poll1_17= NR
| poll1_18= NR
| poll2title = Coaches
| poll2firstweek = 0
| poll2lastweek = 18
| poll2_0= NR
| poll2_1= NR
| poll2_2= NR
| poll2_3= NR
| poll2_4= NR
| poll2_5= NR
| poll2_6= NR
| poll2_7= NR
| poll2_8= NR
| poll2_9= NR
| poll2_10= NR
| poll2_11= NR
| poll2_12= NR
| poll2_13= NR
| poll2_14= NR
| poll2_15= NR
| poll2_16= NR
| poll2_17= NR
| poll2_18= NR
}}
| style="border:1px solid black;"
|+ Legend | style="background:#D8FFEB; width:20px;" | | | Increase in ranking |
| style="background:#FFE6E6; width:20px;" |
| | Decrease in ranking |
| style="background:#FFFFE6; width:20px;" |
| | Not ranked previous week |
| (RV)
| | Received Votes |
| (NR)
| | Not Ranked and Did not receive votes |
The Coaches Poll did not release a Week 2 poll and the AP Poll did not release a poll after the NCAA Tournament.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Illinois State Redbirds women's basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2021-22 Illinois State Redbirds women's basketball team}}