NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State women's basketball head coach Kristen Gillespie has announced the additions of Zanyra Adams (San Antonio, Texas) and Bella Finnegan (Homewood, Ill.) for the 2025-26 campaign.  

Adams sat out the 2024-25 campaign due to injury but spent the last two seasons at Cisco College in Texas. She earned Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, after averaging 18.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game for the Wranglers during the 2023-24 campaign.  

"As talented as Zanyra is on the floor, her intangibles may be even more valuable," Gillespie said. "She is a fierce competitor who will infuse her toughness and versatility into our program. Z can impact the game in a variety of ways and will make an immediate impact on our team." 

She reached double figures in 27 games as a freshman, posting 13 games with 20+ points and two games with 30+ points. Adams put up 32 points along with 18 rebounds and six steals in a January 2024 win over Temple College. The performance was one of Adams' 11 double-doubles on the season. She had seven games with 20+ points and 10+ rebounds and two games with 30+ points and 10+ rebounds. Adams totaled 76 assists in 29 games, including a season-high nine assists in a Nov. 2023 performance at Howard College.  

Finnegan joins the Redbirds with one year of eligibility remaining after a three-year career at Missouri Valley Conference foe Indiana State. She averaged 12.8 points per game, tallying a team-high 55 three-pointers in 2024-25. She posted 16 double-figure scoring performances and five outings with 20+ points. Finnegan scored a career-high 30 points Feb. 9 at Southern Illinois, becoming one of seven Valley players to score 30+ points in MVC play last season. She knocked down eight triples in that game and is one of just two MVC players to tally 8+ threes in a Valley game during the 2024-25 campaign. She is one of eight MVC players to knock down 50+ triples in each of the last two seasons, after marks of 51 three pointers and 55 three pointers the last two seasons.  

"We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Bella to our program," Gillespie said. "She is a gifted player who can score in a variety of ways. Bella is a proven scorer in the Valley and will be a great addition to our backcourt." 

Finnegan was a 2022-23 All-MVC Freshman Team selection for Indiana State, averaging 8.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game with 20 appearances in the starting five. She scored in double-figures 10 times, including a pair of 20-plus point outings as a freshman. Finnegan averaged 9.6 points per game, leading the team in three pointers and making 31 starts as a sophomore with the Sycamores.  

The duo joins an exciting group of returners for Illinois State next season, including 2024 All-MVC Newcomer Team selection Addison Martin and 2024 All-MVC Freshman team honoree Doneelah Washington. Nevaeh Thomas returns for her junior campaign while Trista Fayta is back for her sophomore year. Illinois State tallied a 24-13 record and advanced to the Fab 4 of the WNIT, earning a postseason bid for the fifth consecutive season and a 20-win campaign for the third consecutive year.  

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