NORMAL — Illinois State women's basketball coach Kristen Gillespie started all four of her seniors Saturday at CEFCU Arena, including two who do not typically open the game on the floor.
Yet this was not merely a take a bow and get back to the bench situation.
Caroline Waite and Lauren Cohen joined usual starters Maya Wong and Elyce Knudsen in the starting lineup and helped the Redbirds get off to a strong start the resulted in a 90-68 Missouri Valley Conference trouncing of Valparaiso before a crowd of 2,621.
The Redbirds (19-10 overall) moved within one game of first place in the MVC.