FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Sadie Webb scored a career-high 23 points, but IPFW used a second half surge to send Western Illinois to a 86-74 loss in Summit League action at the Gates Sports Center on Monday, Jan. 10.
The Fighting Leathernecks (4-11, 2-3) found themselves locked in a tight battle for much of the game, but an 11-0 run by the Mastodons (10-5, 3-1) midway through the second half would give IPFW a lead it would never relinquish.
IPFW jumped out to an early 11-5 lead before the Leathernecks would battle back to take their first lead at 14-13 as Webb converted two free throws at the 15:14 mark.
Western would fall behind by four (21-17) with just over 12 minutes to go in the first half before reeling off six unanswered points to take a 23-21 with 10:12 left in the period.
Erin Murphy would convert two straight layups to give IPFW the lead for good at 25-23 with just over eight minutes to go.
Rebecca Henricson's layup with seven minutes remaining would draw the Leathernecks within two at 27-25 before IPFW hit two consecutive shots from beyond the arc to take a 33-25 lead with 6:26 to go.
The Mastodons would outscore the Leathernecks 21-10 over the final ten minutes of the first half to enter the locker room with a 42-33 lead.
A jumper by Kayla Drake would give IPFW its first double-digit lead of the ballgame (44-33) to start the first half.
The Leathernecks would pull within five points on five separate occasions in the second half as Webb scored 11 of the team's first 16 points in the period.
IPFW would respond with three-straight three pointers during an 11-0 run from the 12:20 mark to the 8:02 mark to take a 65-51 lead.
Western Illinois would outscore the Mastodons 23-21 the rest of the way, but were unable to overcome a Mastodons team that saw four players score in double figures.
Webb led the Leathernecks with a career-high 23 points and eight rebounds. Valencia Kelly tied a career-high with 19 points and grabbed a career-high seven boards while Michele Salvatori netted 13 points.
Stephanie Rosado led all scorers with 24 points for IPFW while Jordan Zuppe (16), Ann Boese (13) and Amanda Hyde (11) each finished in double figures.
IPFW shot 53.2 percent (33-for-62) from the floor and converted 9-of-26 three pointer. The Leathernecks shot 46.7 percent (28-for-60) including a season-high 7-for-13 from beyond the arc.
Western Illinois finished with a 31-30 edge in rebounds and converted 11-of-14 free throws while the Mastodons converted 11-of-13.
Webb's effort was the first time a Leatherneck has scored more than 20 points since Jordon O'Brien accomplished the feat at Southern Utah on Jan. 23, 2010.
The Leathernecks will return to action at home when they play host to North Dakota State at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.
