VALPARAISO, Ind. - Western Illinois (2-2) women's basketball traveled to Valparaiso, Ind. on Tuesday night (Nov. 22) and left with a 67-55 victory over the Valparaiso Crusaders (0-3) after an impressive second half comeback.
A strong second half in which the Purple & Gold outscored Valparaiso 46-26 was the catalyst for JD Gravina's first Division I victory at Western. The Leathernecks shot 49 percent (15-for-31) in the second half to overcome a 14-point Crusader lead with 2:49 left in the first half.
Valparaiso jumped out a 15-4 lead in the first 10 minutes of the contest inside the Athletics-Recreation Center.
Lindsay Carroll hit a three-pointer to bring Western to within four at 15-11 with 8:52 left before the break but the Crusaders would keep the momentum and extend its lead to 20-13 after an offensive rebound led to an easy Mallory Ladd basket.
A jumper from Ladd at the 2:49 mark would give Valpo its largest lead of the night, 29-15.
The first half would end on a 6-0 run from the Leathernecks as Michele Salvatori hit two three-pointers to pull Western within eight, 29-21, at the break.
Salvatori finished the first 20 minutes with 10 points and six boards as the Leathernecks shot 26 percent (7-for-27) in the first half.
Ladd and Gina Lange both collected nine first-half points as Valpo used 16 points-in-the-paint to power its first half advantage.
The second half would belong to the Leathernecks as that 6-0 run to end the first half would turn into a 13-0 run in the second half.
Sadie Webb knocked down two three-pointers and Salvatori drove to the rim for a lay up and the comeback was complete as Western took the lead, 30-29, with 17:24 left in the game. Western's defense had held the Crusaders scoreless for 5:45 stretching back to the 2:49 mark in the first half.
The Crusaders attempted to stage a mini-comeback and retook the lead, 31-30, but it would be short lived as a lay up from Rebecca Henricson gave Western the lead, 32-31, and the visitors would not relinquish control.
An 8-0 run from the Leathernecks stretched difference to 38-31 capped by a Valencia Kelly lay up with 14:53 remaining in regulation. The deficit would hover around five until Webb's third and final three-pointer gave Western a 54-46 advantage at the 7:55 mark.
Stingy defense and effective offensive execution carried Western down the stretch and would extend its lead to 12 with under a minute to play, 67-55, and that would be final tally as Western collected its second victory of the season.
Salvatori turned in her second consecutive double-double with 18 points (career high) and 11 boards. Brittany Demery became the third player on the roster with a double-double in their career with 15 points (matches career high), all coming in the second half, and 10 rebounds (career high).
Webb scored in double-digits in her fifth straight game with 17 points while Henricson dished out a career-high six assists.
Valparaiso was paced by Lange with 16 points and seven rebounds while Ladd turned in 11 points and nine boards.
The Leathernecks are back in action on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 4:30 p.m. inside Western Hall against Milwaukee (0-3).
