MACOMB, Ill. – Sophomore
Sarah Miller recorded her first double-digit performance since Jan. 8 against Oral Roberts, but it was not enough for the Western Illinois women's basketball team as the Westerwinds (8-14, 4-4 Mid-Continent Conference) fell 55-52 to Oral Roberts in Western Hall.
Miller tallied 10 points and added six rebounds for Western. Fellow sophomore
Amanda Walker tallied 10 points and added three rebounds, as the only other player to record double-digits for the Westerwinds.
“The difference was in the little things that we didn't do tonight,” said head coach Leslie Crane. “We came out flat in the second half and allowed them to out-score us 15-7 in the first 10 minutes of the second half and that was the difference in the game.”
Western played strong in the first half, holding Elisha Turek to just four points and entered the locker room tied at 30. The first 20 minutes was a back-and-forth battle, with no team leading by more than three points.
Western was strong on the boards, out-rebounding the Golden Eagles (14-8, 4-4 Mid Con) 25-11 in the first half, including 11 offensive boards for the Westerwinds to just one by ORU.
Oral Roberts committed seven fouls early in the game to push Western into the bonus with 14 minutes remaining in the first half. The Westerwinds took advantage of the situation, sinking seven-of-nine free throws.
The second half was a different story as Oral Roberts went on a 11-0 run in the first six minutes, before Western could get a basket to fall. The Westerwinds would then go on a 7-0 run to close the gap, but it was not enough.
Western fought hard and pulled within one with six minutes remaining in the game. The game came down to free throw shots with less than one minute remaining. Western was not able to capitalize on their attempts, while the Golden Eagles hit key free throws with 30 and seven seconds remaining in the game.
Western would have seven seconds at the end of the half to try and tie the game. Junior
Gina Hugelier sent up a shot from three-feet beyond the arc with a second remaining and just missed sinking it, as the ball hit off the front of the rim. Hugelier ended the game with eight points and broke a streak of five-games in double-digits for the Westerwinds.
Western will next face Centenary, Monday, Feb. 5. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Western Hall.
Notes: Western ended the game with 43 rebounds, including 16 offensive boards … both totals are the second highest on the season for the Westerwinds … Western recorded 44 boards, including 18 offensive against Illinois-Springfield Dec. 17, 2006.
Quotes
Western Illinois Head Coach Leslie Crane“We did everything else that we were supposed to, rebounding, causing turnovers, but we let Turek get to loose on us in the second half.”
“We followed our game plan tonight, but we just didn't do a good job of doing it consistently in the second half.”
Oral Roberts Head Coach Jerry Finkbeiner“We are just as happy with this road win as Western was a couple of weeks ago when they beat us at home. Mid-Con road wins are hard to come by and the odd thing is that we are 1-3 at home and 3-1 on the road.”
“The only thing that balanced out the 16 offensive boards that we allowed was the turnover situation because we only had six at the half and that kept us in the game.”
