MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois (2-3) women's basketball continues its longest home stand of the season as Summit League play opens up inside Western Hall with South Dakota State visiting on Wednesday (Nov. 30).

The Leathernecks fell to Milwaukee inside Western Hall on Saturday (Nov. 26), 79-66, behind three Panthers scoring in double-figures and a 45 percent (30-for-67) clip from the field.

Lindsay Carroll led the Leathernecks' offensive attack with a career high 18 points including a 4-for-8 performance from behind the arc. Despite out rebounding the Panthers, 49-45, Western could not sustain a second half rally, which tied the game at 39-39.

The Match Up
Who: South Dakota State (3-3) at Western Illinois (2-3)
When: Wednesday, November 30 at 7 p.m.
Location: Macomb, Ill.
Arena: Waste Management Court in Western Hall (5,139)

Coverage
Television • wiutv3

Radio • WIUS (88.3 FM, Macomb) Flagship station
Live WIUS radio broadcast (Free)
Play-by-Play: Michael Broskowski
Color Analyst: Ryne Thorson

Streaming • GoLeathernecks.com (Subscription)
Play-by-Play: Drew Hoffman
Color Analyst: David Mitchell

Live Stats • GoLeathernecks.com (Free)

SCOUTING THE JACKRABBITS: Head coach Aaron Johnston is in his 12th season leading Jackrabbit program (269-93). In 2010-11 South Dakota State went 19-14 with a 12-6 mark in the Summit League (T3rd) and won the Summit League Tournament to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history but lost to Xavier to end its season. The Jacks' are returning to the states after losing two games in Cancun, Mexico. the first defeat was at the hands of Cincinnati, 55-22 and finished the Caribbean Challenge with a loss to Marist, 57-49, to move its record to 3-3. SDSU leads the all-time series 8-1. The two teams last met on Feb. 12, 2011 and the Jackrabbits won 65-40 in Brookings, S.D.

JACKRABBITS TO WATCH: Jenni Sunnarborg is averaging a team-high 11.3 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game, which is second on the team. Jill Young is second on the tea, with 10.5 points per game and leads the the team with 14 three-point field goals. Ashley Eide has 14 steals this season to go along with 8.7 points per game and leads the team-high 5.7 rebounds per game. Steph Paulch is averaging 6.7 points per game.

STEP ONE: The JD Gravina era officially began with a win as Western Illinois defeated Hannibal-LaGrange 87-65 on Friday night (Nov. 11). The 87 points were the most scored by a Leatherneck team since Dec. 18, 2005 (109 vs. Illinois Springfield). From the field Western shot 47 percent (31-66) for the night and was 10-16 from behind the arc (63 percent). The 10 three-pointers were the most since Dec. 12, 2009 (14 vs. UIS). Eleven Leathernecks scored on the night and Sadie Webb led the way with 19 points and nine rebounds. The Leathernecks scored 36 points off the 25 Hannibal-LaGrange turnovers including an 18-0 edge in fastbreak points.

NON-CONFERNCE SCHEDULE: Trips to Vanderbilt, Northern Illinois, Valparaiso, Eastern Illinois, Iowa, Bradley and Nebraska-Omaha highlight the road non-conference schedule. Milwaukee and Nebraska-Omaha visit Western Hall as two of the marquee home non-conference games.

NEW LOOK SUMMIT LEAGUE COMING: The Summit League has experienced a makeover in recent years. Centenary moved to Division III prior to this athletic year. Southern Utah will depart for the Big Sky Conference after this season. Nebraska-Omaha will begin Summit League competition in July 2012. South Dakota joins the Summit League for official competition this season. In October, Oral Roberts announced that it will become the Southland Conference's newest member beginning in July of 2012.

WEBB LEADING THE WAY: No surprise that after three games senior Sadie Webb leads the team in scoring (18.0). Five consecutive double-figure scoring performances this season was highlighted with a career-high 31 points against Northern Illinois. Webb was 9-for-18 from the field including 2-for-4 from long range and 11-for-16 from the free throw line. It was the first time a Leatherneck had scored 30 or more points since Kinesha Davis against Youngstown State on Jan. 18, 1998 when she had 34 points. Most recently, Webb collected a double-double (11 points/10 rebounds) in the loss to Milwaukee. The senior has scored in double-digits in six straight dating back to last season and has reached the mark in 70 percent (23/33) of her games as a Leatherneck.

SEEING DOUBLE: Michele Salvatori turned in back-to-back double-doubles at Northern Illinois with 17 points and 13 rebounds and Valparaiso with 18 points and 11 rebounds, the 18 points is a career high. She collected the first such performance since Sadie Webb did it against Southern Utah on Feb. 19, 2011 with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Salvatori is now the second player on the roster to record a double-double. Brittany Demery joined the fun with 15 points and 10 boards at Valparaiso, the 15 points matched a career high and the 10 rebounds was a new high mark for the senior forward.

SECOND HALF SURGES: The Purple & Gold have put together six solid second halves this season including the exhibition against Illinois Springfield. Against UIS, the Leathernecks scored 46 second-half points in the 76-69 victory. Western followed with a 48-point performance against Hannibal-LaGrange in the 87-65 win. Despite losing at Vanderbilt, 95-51, the Leathernecks only lost the second half by six, 40-34. And just recently, Western outscored NIU 33-30 to force overtime before falling in the second overtime on Wednesday (Nov. 16). Western used a second half comeback to collect a road victory at Valparaiso, in which it outscored the Crusaders 46-26 in the second half. Another comeback attempt fell short against Milwaukee as Milwaukee led 37-27 at the half but the leathernecks charged back to tie the game at 39-39 early in the second half, the Panthers outscored Western 42-39 in the final period on Saturday (Nov. 26). On the season, the Leathernecks have outscored their opponents 200-177 in second halves.

SIGNING CLASS: First-year Western Illinois women's basketball head coach JD Gravina and his staff announced the signing of four high school athletes to join the Purple & Gold in 2012. The four include two three-star recruits and three Illinois athletes. Michelle Maher (5-9, Guard) from Park Ridge, Ill. and Maine South High School is four-time letterwinner in basketball while collecting 811 career points and helped Maine South collect a third place finish at the 2011 State Tournament. Paige Harmon (6-0, Forward) from Oswego, Ill and Oswego High School is a three-star prospect by ESPN and averaged 21.2 points and 10.9 rebounds per game while scoring over 35 points on four different occasions and pulling down 20 rebounds on three occasions. Liz Skotowski (5-9, Guard) from Mt. Vernon, Iowa and Mt. Vernon High School is a four-time letterwinner and member and was state runner-up her junior year. Charnelle Reed (5-10, Guard) from Flossmoor, Ill. and Homewood-Flossmoor High School is another three-star recruit as ranked by ESPN and average 13.2 points as a junior while being named Honorable Mention IBCA All-State.

FRESHMAN DEAD EYE: Lindsay Carroll is shooting 53 percent (8-for-15) from behind the arc this season and knocked down four against Milwaukee on Saturday. Carroll collected a team-high 18 points in her 20 minutes. Her second half was a catalyst for the comeback as she collected 14 of her 18 points in the final 20 minutes.
RECORD WATCH: Western is scoring 71.0 points per game this season, which would tie the team for third all-time in program history with the 1990-91 squad. That team scored 1,917 points that season on its way to a 11-16 record. Sadie Webb is averaging 18.0 points per game, which would tie her for third all-time in program history with Kelle Lindbeck's 1982-83 season. Michele Salvatori is averaging 10 rebounds per game including two 13-board performances. The single-season record for rebounds is 362 (12.9 rpg) by Oberon Pitterson in 1993-94. Lindsay Carroll's 53 (8-for-15) percent mark from three would be a single season record, Michelle Nason shot 50 percent (47-for-95) in 1990-91.

WHAT IS A LEATHERNECK?: Western Illinois holds the distinction of being the only non-military institution to officially have its nickname derived from a branch of the military service. The school began use of the Marine Corps' official nickname, "The Fighting Leathernecks," in 1927 when then-athletic director and head baseball, basketball and football coach Ray "Rock" Hanson was granted permission by the U.S. Navy, based on his status as a Marine hero, to use the Marine's official seal, bulldog mascot and nickname.

UP NEXT: Summit League play continues as North Dakota State visits Western Hall for the third of three straight home games on Friday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m.