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Western Illinois University Athletics

Clemens FP
86
Winner Western Illinois WIU 16-6, 6-3 SL
78
South Dakota USD 18-4, 7-2 SL
Winner
Western Illinois WIU
16-6, 6-3 SL
86
Final
78
South Dakota USD
18-4, 7-2 SL
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Western Illinois WIU 21 25 20 20 86
South Dakota USD 15 16 25 22 78

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks Snap South Dakota's Home Winning Streak

Western Illinois ended a 24-game home winning streak for the Coyotes.

VERMILLION, S.D. – An 86-78 road win for the Western Illinois Leathernecks snapped the South Dakota Coyotes' 24-game home winning streak.

"That was a very good program-defining win," said head coach JD Gravina. "That is such a tough place to play and a difficult travel schedule. I was really proud of the way we responded to their runs."

The Leathernecks opened the first quarter with a six-point lead, and saw that advantage increase to 12 after a pair of 3-pointers from Taylor Hanneman and Michelle Farrow with 9:03 to go in the second quarter.

After junior Morgan Blumer hit a trio of 3-pointers in the first quarter, she knocked down her fourth with just over three minutes to go until halftime, which increased the Western lead to 16 points. With 2:35 to go until halftime, Western forced a Coyote timeout after Boyle was fouled and made the bucket.

By halftime, the Purple and Gold shot 9-for-18 from downtown for a 46-31 lead.

Blumer hit her fifth shot from beyond the arc to open the third quarter, followed by a pair of free throws, which gave Western a 55-37 lead with 7:12 to go in the third—its largest of the game.

The Coyotes cut their deficit to nine points late in the third quarter, but Blumer's sixth 3-pointer made it a 62-50 game with 2:08 to go in the third. An 8-3 South Dakota run cut Western's lead to eight at the 1:13 mark, but the Leathernecks responded to make it a double-digit game.

South Dakota made a put-back at the buzzer, which made it a 66-56 contest in favor of the Leathernecks entering the fourth quarter.

Western Illinois saw its lead dwindle to seven after a 5-0 Coyote spurt with 8:10 to go in regulation. With under six minutes to play, a crucial 3-pointer by Higginbotham, followed by a jumper from Olivia Braun gave the Leathernecks some breathing room. A pair of Clemens free throws to put Western up 77-68 with 3:56 to go.

Back-to-back 3-pointers by South Dakota made it a one-possession game (79-76) with 1:59 to go, which tested the Leathernecks to withstand the rally. Clemens was fouled and went to the charity stripe with 1:58 remaining. She drained both to make it a five-point game.

After a quick South Dakota bucket with under a minute to play and Western up by three points, the duo of Braun and Clemens went on to hit five of their last seven free throws to seal the 86-78 win for Western Illinois.

"I was happy that we were able to get off to a great start and carry that momentum throughout the entire game," said Gravina.

For Western Illinois (16-6, 6-3), Clemens finished with 24 points and a career-high 13 assists. Blumer's six 3-pointers and 10 made field goals gave her a game-high 28 points. Taylor Higginbotham concluded her day with 16 points, nine rebounds and five steals.

Allison Arens led South Dakota (18-4, 7-2) with 27 points and seven rebounds, followed by Jaycee Bradley's 13 points and Kate Liveringhouse's 11 points.

The Leathernecks return to the hardwood at Oral Roberts next Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m.

PROGRAM NOTES:
-Western Illinois' win over South Dakota ends the Coyotes' 24-game home winning streak and their first loss inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center…
-The win marks the first over South Dakota since Jan. 23, 2014 on road…. Also ends a six-game skid for the Leathernecks against the Coyotes…
-Leathernecks hit 12 3-point field goals (nine in the first half)… Last time Western Illinois hit 10 or more 3-point field goals was 15 against North Dakota State (Jan. 14, 2017)…

PLAYER  NOTES:
-Emily Clemens recorded a career-high 13 assists… now at 355 total career-assists (sixth all-time in program history, seven shy of tying for fifth all-time)… 24 points marks her 20th double-digit scoring game of the season (career 36th)… 12th 20-plus point game this season (career 15th)… fifth career 40-minute game… 14th career five-plus assist game this season (career 29th)… fifth double-double this season (career sixth)...
-Morgan Blumer's six made 3-pointers is one shy of her career-high… 28 points marks her 20th career double-digit scoring game… fifth-career 20-plus point game… sixth career game as the scoring leader…
-Taylor Higginbotham's 16 points is her 15th double-digit scoring game this season (career 36th)… five steals ties her career-high for the second time…


 
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