MACOMB, Ill. – Jackie Barton and Sadie Webb each scored in double-figures for the second game in a row, but Western Illinois was unable to overcome a 13-point halftime deficit in an 87-59 loss to South Dakota State on Monday, Jan. 17 at Western Hall.
"South Dakota State is a good team and we knew they'd have a strong showing after their game at IUPUI this weekend," said head coach Leslie Crane. "We had a bit of a letdown tonight after that big win against North Dakota State on Saturday."
The Fighting Leathernecks (5-12, 3-4) trailed by just four points with 10:42 remaining in the first half before the Jackrabbits (8-10, 4-3) reeled off a 22-10 run to push their lead to 43-27 with just over three minutes to go.
Western Illinois would get five points from Webb in the closing minutes to head to the locker room down by 13 (47-34). The junior scored 18 of her team-leading 20 points in the first half.
"My teammates have just been doing a good job of finding me and helping me to get open," said Webb, who finished 5-for-6 for the game, including a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc and 5-for-6 from the line.
The Jackrabbits ended the first half shooting 56.7 percent (17-for-30) including a blistering 63.6 percent (7-for-11) from long range while the Leathernecks managed just 38.5 percent (10-for-26) from the floor but did convert 11-of-14 free throws.
Western was able to cut the deficit to single digits (52-43) on Barton's three-pointer with 16:27 to go, but South Dakota State would go on a 31-11 run over the next 15 minutes to take a commanding 83-54 lead en route to their third-straight Summit League win.
"We had a few good possessions on both sides of the ball," said Barton. "We never really strung any together though and that's what hurt us in the end."
Webb's effort was her third-straight double-digit scoring output and marked the second time in three games that she has scored 20 or more points. Barton finished with a season-high 13 points and tied Rebecca Henricson with a team-high five boards.
Jill Young paced the Jackrabbits with 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting including a 5-for-9 effort from beyond the arc. Jenni Sunnarborg scored 15 points and pulled down a game-high six rebounds while Leah Dietel added 12 points.
South Dakota State shot 49.2 percent (29-for-59) from the floor and went 21-for-24 from the charity stripe. Western Illinois shot 36.0 percent (18-for-50) and made 18-of-28 free throw attempts.
The Leathernecks forced 20 turnovers while committing 18 of their own and were out-rebounded by a 42-26 margin. Western recorded three blocks in the contest.
Western Illinois will return to action this weekend when they travel to UMKC on Saturday before heading to Southern Utah on Monday evening.
