MACOMB, Ill. ? Western Illinois University women's basketball head coach Leslie Crane announced the hiring of Centenary College assistant coach K.C. Cowgill as an assistant coach for the Westerwinds.

"K.C. will be a great asset to our program because of her playing experience both at Nebraska and Missouri State where she led the nation in three-point shooting percentage her senior campaign," Crane said. "Her experience in the conference is an important piece of the puzzle for us to win another conference championship. Because of these two components she will be a great teacher with our players.

Before assuming her duties at Western June 2, Cowgill served as an assistant coach at The Summit League foe Centenary for two years.

"Coach Crane has the program going in the right direction and I'm very excited to be a part of that," stated Cowgill. "The last two years I've witnessed how good the school is and how well the women's basketball program is run."

Prior to working with the Ladies, Cowgill served as a graduate assistant coach at the University of Nebraska-Kearney and an assistant coach with Kickapoo High School in Springfield, Mo., in 2006.

Cowgill graduated from Missouri State in 2006 with a bachelor of science degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation. While with the Bears she served as team co-captain in her junior and senior seasons, leading Missouri State to the 2005 Missouri Valley Conference Championship and the 2005 WNIT Championship.

During her senior season she led the nation in three-point shooting percentage (.532, 74-139) and was second in the nation her junior season (.471, 65-138).

In her first season with the Bears, she was named Missouri Valley Newcomer of the Year, while helping the team to the 2004 regular season and conference championships. Cowgill also earned the 2005 Team Senior Award and was an academic all-conference member.

Before joining the Bears in 2003-04, the Grand Island, Neb., native played her first two collegiate seasons at the University of Nebraska where she was named team captain for her sophomore season (2001-02).

A 2000 graduate of Grand Island Catholic Central High School, Cowgill excelled in three sports, being named Nebraska's Athlete of the Year for the 1999-2000 school year. During that year, Cowgill was named to Nebraska's Super State First Team in basketball, the all-state volleyball first team, and was the state champion at No. 2 singles in tennis. Cowgill is also the state's second all-time leading scorer.

Her responsibilities with the Westerwinds will include floor coaching of guards, team travel, recruiting, scouting, and day-to-day operations.