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Western Illinois University Athletics

Emily Clemens
71
Kansas City UMKC 0-1
90
Winner Western Illinois WIU 1-0
Kansas City UMKC
0-1
71
Final
90
Western Illinois WIU
1-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Kansas City UMKC 17 21 13 20 71
Western Illinois WIU 19 22 16 33 90

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

Leathernecks Surge Past UMKC In Season Opener

JD Gravina recorded his 100th win at Western Illinois.

MACOMB, Ill.— Head coach JD Gravina picked up his 100th win at Western Illinois behind six players who scored in double figures for a 90-71 season-opening victory over Kansas City inside Western Hall Friday night (Nov. 10).
 
"We played in a hard-fought game tonight and I think it gave us some confidence. This is a veteran group and UMKC is a good basketball team," said Gravina. "They have some of the better post players we've played against, and they have some athletic kids that can shoot and guard. I am shocked we out-rebounded them since they are a very good rebounding team. That's a lot of credit to our team and that is exactly what we wanted for the first game. They were able to push us."

The Leathernecks were led by the 21 points and 12 assists from Emily Clemens, while Morgan Blumer followed with 15 points and seven boards. Both Taylor Higginbotham and Olivia Kaufmann added 11, while Olivia Braun and Michelle Farrow chipped in 10. The last time the Leathernecks had five or more players score in double figures was March 4 of last season in the opening round of The Summit League Championship against Denver.

Things were close in the first half, as UMKC hit a pair of threes to take a 30-26 lead with under five minutes to go in the second. The Leathernecks, however, were able to respond off a three by Kaufmann that preceded a 9-0 run to put Western up 41-38 at the half, capped off by a Clemens bucket.

UMKC eventually regained a 49-48 lead with 4:49 to go in the third, but a bucket by Sam Pryor off a Clemens dish, followed by critical corner 3-pointer by Farrow, gave Western the lead once again. With a 6-point lead at the end of the third, Western eventually made it a 10-point game after Blumer knocked a pair down from the charity stripe.

The Purple and Gold would go on to outscore UMKC 22-6 over the a 7:20 span, which increased the lead to double digits (72-56). From there, Western was able to cruise to the 19-point win and improve to 1-0 on the season. Western Illinois has a quick turnaround, as they take on Illinois College at home this Sunday (Nov. 12) at 4:30 p.m. The Championship Ring and Banner Ceremony will also take place prior to the game.

PROGRAM NOTES:
-Head coach JD Gravina earned his 100th win at Western Illinois…. also marks his 214th career win…
-Western Illinois had six players record double figures, which marked the first time that the team had at five or more in double figures since March 4, 2016 against Denver… Last season, the Leathernecks did not have six players score in double figures, but had five in double figures four times…

PLAYER NOTES:
-Emily Clemens' 21 points and 12 rebounds marks her 46th career double-digit scoring game and her 22nd career 20-plus point game… also marks her 40th career five-plus assist game… 12 assists is one shy of her career-high of 13 (at South Dakota on Jan. 28, 2017)… 18th career game as the scoring leader…
-Olivia Braun's 10 points mark her 10th career double-digit scoring game… eight rebounds also marks her seventh-career game as the team-leader in rebounds…  
-Morgan Blumer had 15 points which netted her 31st career double-digit scoring game… five free throws made ties a career-high for the fifth time…
-Olivia Kaufmann was one point shy of her career-high of 12 (vs. Graceland, Dec. 7, 2016)… 11 points is also her second-career double-digit scoring game… four rebounds ties a career-high for the second time… four made free throws is a new career-high…
- Michelle Farrow's 10 points marked her 13th career double-digit scoring game..
- Taylor Higginbotham's 11 points marked her 44th double-digit scoring game of her career… eight rebounds ties Olivia Braun and marks her 17th career game as a rebounds leader for the team in a single contest..
-Sam Pryor's two made free throws is a career-high…
   
 
 
 
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