MACOMB, Ill. - The final home games of 2011 for both the men and women's basketball programs will be held on Tuesday beginning at 5 p.m.

Western Illinois (3-8, 1-1) women's basketball will attempt to regain the form that earned the Leathernecks a win over North Dakota State to open December. Since then, Western have lost four straight and will welcome William Woods to Western Hall on Tuesday to tip-off a doubleheader for both basketball programs. The game will be an exhibition for the Owls.

Western Illinois kept it close during the first several minutes of the first half, but Bradley used a 14-0 run to pull away for good as the Leathernecks dropped a 93-64 decision Wednesday night (Dec. 21).

Playing their second game in as many nights, the Leathernecks (3-8 overall) kept it close during the first eight minutes. Valencia Kelly scored eight of the first 10 points, and her jumper in the lane cut the deficit to 20-16 at the 12 minute mark. From there the Braves scored 14 straight and used a 22-4 run to pull out to a 42-20 lead with just over four minutes remaining.

The Match Up
Who: William Woods (7-4) at Western Illinois (3-8, 1-1)
When: Tuesday, December 27 at 5 p.m.
Location: Macomb, Ill.
Arena: Waste Management Court at Western Hall (5,139) (4,200)

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

Streaming • Rocky Vision (Subscription)

Live Stats • GoLeathernecks.com (Free)

SCOUTING THE OWLS: Head Coach Dan Chapla (Ottawa University, 1993) is in his fourth season (87-22) leading William Woods' women's basketball and his 10th (163-132) overall season as a head coach. Last season, the Owls turned an impressive 30-5 record including a 14-2 (2nd) mark in the American Midwest Conference (NAIA). WWU returns two starters and 11 letterwinners for the 2011-12 campaign and is off to a 7-4 start this season. Most recently, the Owls fell at MidAmerica Nazarene in double-overtime, 78-84, on Dec. 17. The Purple & Gold hold the advantage in the all-time series, 4-1. Last season, the Leathernecks were victorious, 60-42, over William Woods on Dec. 11, 2010 in Macomb.

OWLS TO WATCH: Sharron Andrews leads the team with 14.0 points per game and is pulling down 5.5 rebounds per game. Andrews has dished out 26 assists (2.4 apg) this season, which is tops on the team. Megan Aubuchon is scoring 9.5 points per game and leads the team with 7.9 rebounds per game. She also leads the team with nine blocks. Ashlee Taylor is third on the team in scoring with 8.8 points per game and is tied with Andrews in rebounding with 5.5 per game. Taylor is the only Owl with 10 or more made three-point attempts as she is 15-for-47 (32%). As a team, WWU is shooting 37 percent from the field, 27 percent from behind the arc and 66 percent from the free-throw line.

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.

WEBB LEADING THE WAY: No surprise that after eight games senior Sadie Webb leads the team in scoring (14.5). Six consecutive double-figure scoring performances this season was highlighted with a career-high 31 points against Northern Illinois. The streak of seven straight such games dating back to last season came to end against North Dakota State when she scored eight points. At NIU, 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. Against Milwaukee, Webb collected a double-double (11 points/10 rebounds) in the loss. Webb returned to form against Nebraska Omaha with a 22-point performance while also pulling down nine rebounds. The senior has reached double-digits in 67 percent (26/39) 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. She leads the team 8.3 rpg a game including 34 offensive rebounds this season of her 91 total boards. Salvatori was also named Papa John's Scholar-Athlete of the Week on Nov. 26 for her performance on the court and in the classroom.

$AULE: The Leathernecks received a boost from sharp shooter Saule Kontautaite against North Dakota State on Dec. 2.The junior missed all of last season due to injury and seemed to regain some confidence during the first half against the Bison. Kontautaite knocked down four first-half deep balls for 12 first-half points, helping Western to a 33-23 advantage. She collected a fifth and final three-pointer in the second half and finished with a career-high 17 points. Her hot streak continued at Eastern Illinois with a 3-for-5 performance from behind the arc. Kountautaite is second on the team with 18 made three-pointers. Sadie Webb leads with 19 successful three-point attempts.

STARTING CONSISTENCY: The Purple & Gold have started the same five in nine of 11 games this season. Those five being Valencia Kelly, Rebecca Henricson, Sadie Webb, Michele Salvatori and Brittany Demery. At Bradley, the Leathernecks sent out Rieger and Kontautaite for their first starts of the season. Last season, through 10 games the Leathernecks had used five different starting lineups. The combination of Kelly, Salvatori, Webb, Jackie Rieger and Anne Borgertpoepping was used four times in that stretch.

LIVE & DIE: The Purple & Gold have attempted 61 three-point field goals in its last three contests. Only 14 of those were successful (23%) and on the season Western is shooting 29 percent (68-of-233) from behind the arc. Three Leathernecks lead the deep ball crusade as Sadie Webb, Saule Kontautaite and Lindsay Carroll all have at least 30 attempts.

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.

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.

BITS & PIECES: Western Illinois collected a 20-2 advantage in second chance points against UNO on Tuesday night (Dec. 20). That game featured 14 lead changes and six ties. It was the first time the Leathernecks dropped a game after leading at halftime and were tied with just five minutes remaining. The Mavericks use 25 points off its bench and 26 points-in-the-paint to power its 40-point second half to overcome its halftime disadvantage.  

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.

UP NEXT: The final game of 2011 will feature a return to Summit League play as the Leathernecks will travel to Indianapolis to clash with IUPUI on New Year's Eve at 5 p.m. (CT).

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