George Washington University Athletics
Monday, March 30
Normal, IL
7:30 p.m.
George Washington University
at
Illinois State
Women’s Basketball Continues WNIT Dance at Illinois State in Great Eight
3/29/2026 7:26:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Following a 71-62 home win over Loyola Chicago in the Super 16, the George Washington women's basketball team looks to continue dancing in the WNIT, traveling to Illinois State for a date with the Redbirds in the Great Eight. Tip-off is set for Monday night at 7:30 p.m. ET live on ESPN+.
LEWIS' MONSTER GAME DOWNS RAMBLERS
In arguably the best game of her collegiate career, Sara Lewis dominated the court on Friday night, leading GW to a win in the Super 16. She posted 25 points, 13 rebounds, dished out eight assists and swiped three steals, tying her career-best marks in points and rebounds, and setting a new career-high in assists. She fell just two helpers shy of a triple-double, something the program hasn't seen since the 2004 season, and would have joined Kristin McArdle and Anna Montañana as the only players to do so in GW women's basketball history.
Lewis has enjoyed a breakout season, sitting second on the team at 11.2 ppg and leading the program in rebounds at 6.0 a game. She's posted five double-doubles this year, including in three of her last four games, and has scored 15 or more points in 10 contests.
LAST ONE STANDING
Friday night's win over Loyola Chicago knocked out the only other remaining Atlantic 10 team in the postseason. The Revolutionaries are now the only program, men's or women's, to still be representing the conference this season. In total, the A-10 saw seven teams play postseason basketball this year. Joining GW in the WNIT were Loyola Chicago, La Salle and St. Bonaventure. La Salle fell in the Super 16 to Army, while the Bonnies were knocked out in the second round by Middle Tennessee. Joining the WNIT crew were Rhode Island and Richmond, who both made appearances in the NCAA Tournament, along with George Mason, who played in this year's WBIT.
GW'S RUN BY THE NUMBERS
GW's run to the Great Eight is the first in program history. In GW's five prior trips to the WNIT, the program advanced to the Super 16 once in 2014, and didn't advance beyond the second round four other times. GW has 24 total postseason appearances, including 18 trips to the NCAA Tournament. The Buff & Blue have advanced to the Sweet 16 four times, and made one trip to the Elite Eight in 1997.
Head Coach Ganiyat Adeduntan is just the third coach in program history to advance to the postseason in her first year with the program. However, she's the only coach in GW's storied history to win a postseason game in their first season in Foggy Bottom. She's now won three postseason games and has topped GW's win total by five from a season ago.
Gabby Reynolds continues her standout sophomore season, entering Monday's game with 498 points on the year. That mark sits 18th all-time in program history for points in a year, needing just 18 more to crack the top 10. Taj Abraham, GW's all-time leading scorer, holds the top two spots on the list, posting 675 points in 1996-97 and 642 in 1995-96. Reynolds has 54 made three-pointers, which ranks 20th in program history for a single year, while Lewis' 121 made free throws this year is ninth all-time.
SCOUTING THE REDBIRDS
Illinois State enters the Great Eight with a 22-13 record. The Redbirds finished 13-7 in the Missouri Valley Conference this season, falling in overtime to Evansville in the conference's tournament semifinals. ISU played Bradley, who GW knocked off in the WNIT first round, twice this season, defeating the Braves by three points on Feb. 1 and by one point on March 8. Illinois State is led by Head Coach Kristen Gillespie, who holds a 178-108 mark in nine seasons with the program.
Illinois State stared elimination in the face on Friday night and walked away victorious, trailing by 10 points with just under seven minutes remaining. The Redbirds closed the game on an 18-4 run, knocking off Abilene Christian, 59-55, to advance to the Great Eight.
The Redbirds are led by Doneelah Washington, who averages 17.1 ppg on 51.2% shooting from the floor. Washington also leads the program with 8.5 rebounds a night, 1.9 steals per game and 1.7 blocks per contest. Addison Martin tallies 12.4 ppg for the Redbirds, while Trista Fayta chips in 11.8 points a night. Illinois State's 2025-26 stats can be found here.
LEWIS' MONSTER GAME DOWNS RAMBLERS
In arguably the best game of her collegiate career, Sara Lewis dominated the court on Friday night, leading GW to a win in the Super 16. She posted 25 points, 13 rebounds, dished out eight assists and swiped three steals, tying her career-best marks in points and rebounds, and setting a new career-high in assists. She fell just two helpers shy of a triple-double, something the program hasn't seen since the 2004 season, and would have joined Kristin McArdle and Anna Montañana as the only players to do so in GW women's basketball history.
Lewis has enjoyed a breakout season, sitting second on the team at 11.2 ppg and leading the program in rebounds at 6.0 a game. She's posted five double-doubles this year, including in three of her last four games, and has scored 15 or more points in 10 contests.
LAST ONE STANDING
Friday night's win over Loyola Chicago knocked out the only other remaining Atlantic 10 team in the postseason. The Revolutionaries are now the only program, men's or women's, to still be representing the conference this season. In total, the A-10 saw seven teams play postseason basketball this year. Joining GW in the WNIT were Loyola Chicago, La Salle and St. Bonaventure. La Salle fell in the Super 16 to Army, while the Bonnies were knocked out in the second round by Middle Tennessee. Joining the WNIT crew were Rhode Island and Richmond, who both made appearances in the NCAA Tournament, along with George Mason, who played in this year's WBIT.
GW'S RUN BY THE NUMBERS
GW's run to the Great Eight is the first in program history. In GW's five prior trips to the WNIT, the program advanced to the Super 16 once in 2014, and didn't advance beyond the second round four other times. GW has 24 total postseason appearances, including 18 trips to the NCAA Tournament. The Buff & Blue have advanced to the Sweet 16 four times, and made one trip to the Elite Eight in 1997.
Head Coach Ganiyat Adeduntan is just the third coach in program history to advance to the postseason in her first year with the program. However, she's the only coach in GW's storied history to win a postseason game in their first season in Foggy Bottom. She's now won three postseason games and has topped GW's win total by five from a season ago.
Gabby Reynolds continues her standout sophomore season, entering Monday's game with 498 points on the year. That mark sits 18th all-time in program history for points in a year, needing just 18 more to crack the top 10. Taj Abraham, GW's all-time leading scorer, holds the top two spots on the list, posting 675 points in 1996-97 and 642 in 1995-96. Reynolds has 54 made three-pointers, which ranks 20th in program history for a single year, while Lewis' 121 made free throws this year is ninth all-time.
SCOUTING THE REDBIRDS
Illinois State enters the Great Eight with a 22-13 record. The Redbirds finished 13-7 in the Missouri Valley Conference this season, falling in overtime to Evansville in the conference's tournament semifinals. ISU played Bradley, who GW knocked off in the WNIT first round, twice this season, defeating the Braves by three points on Feb. 1 and by one point on March 8. Illinois State is led by Head Coach Kristen Gillespie, who holds a 178-108 mark in nine seasons with the program.
Illinois State stared elimination in the face on Friday night and walked away victorious, trailing by 10 points with just under seven minutes remaining. The Redbirds closed the game on an 18-4 run, knocking off Abilene Christian, 59-55, to advance to the Great Eight.
The Redbirds are led by Doneelah Washington, who averages 17.1 ppg on 51.2% shooting from the floor. Washington also leads the program with 8.5 rebounds a night, 1.9 steals per game and 1.7 blocks per contest. Addison Martin tallies 12.4 ppg for the Redbirds, while Trista Fayta chips in 11.8 points a night. Illinois State's 2025-26 stats can be found here.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's BasketballGW Women's Basketball vs. Loyola-Chicago (WNIT Super 16 Post-Game Press Conference)
Saturday, March 28
GW Women's Basketball vs. Bradley (WNIT Post-Game Press Conference)
Friday, March 20
GW Women's Basketball vs. St. Bonaventure (Post-Game Press Conference)
Thursday, February 26
GW Women's Basketball vs. Richmond (Post-Game Press Conference)
Thursday, February 19