MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois (4-8, 1-1) dished out a season-high 24 assists on Tuesday evening to power its efficient offensive attack to defeat William Woods (7-4), 73-52. The contest was an exhibition for the NAIA member Owls.
Michele Salvatori regained her early season form and led the Leathernecks with 18 points, matching her career-high, on a 7-for-11 shooting performance from the field. She also collected four three-pointers, also a season-high.
The Purple & Gold used strong defense to open up a 6-2 lead in the first five minutes. William Woods answered with consecutive baskets to pull within two, 8-6 at the 14:14 mark.
Salvatori collected five straight points to give Western a 15-10 lead with 11:40 remaining before the break. Salvatori's aim stayed sharp early in the first half as she knocked down a second deep ball, extending Western's lead to 20-12 at the 10:15 mark.
Western continued to shoot the ball well from behind the arc as Sadie Webb knocked down another long-range jumper to give the home team a 31-21 lead with 5:15 on the clock.
Improved shooting from the Leathernecks powered its 39-25 halftime lead. Western shot 42.5% from the field including four three-pointers, three from Salvatori. Valencia Kelly led all scorers with 12 points at the break while Salvatori poured in 11. Jackie Rieger pulled down a career-high eight rebounds.
The Owls struggled holding onto the ball as 15 first half turnovers led to 12 points for the Leathernecks. Western controlled the tempo and only turned the ball over on four occasions. Coach JD Gravina's Leathernecks turned up the transition game and collected 12 points on the break.
Western again took aim from behind the arc in the opening minutes in the second half as it drilled it first three attempts, extending the lead to 48-27 at the 18-minute mark.
The deficit hovered around 25 for the majority of the next 10 minutes until a 12-1 run for the Leathernecks stretched the lead to 66-32, capped by a layup from Webb at the 8:50 mark. The 34-point margin was the greatest of the night.
William Woods staged a comeback and eventually shrunk Western's advantage nearly in half after a Destani Stensrud layup with just over a minute of action remaining made it 68-49 Leathernecks. The 17-2 run for the Owls forced Coach Gravina to call a timeout and reshuffle his defense.
The Owls ran out of time and Western would collect the 73-52 victory.
Four Leathernecks scored in double-figures, accounting for 83 percent of the offense on the night for the Purple & Gold. Joining Salvatori was Kelly with 18 while also dishing out five assists, Webb with 14 and Brittany Demery with 11. Rieger finish with a career-high 10-rebound performance.
The Leathernecks shot 43 percent from the field including hitting nine three-pointers, the second most all season. However, Western went the free-throw line on just four occasions, sinking half of those attempts.
Megan Aubuchon led the Owls with 12 points while Sharron Andrews led the team with seven rebounds.
The Leathernecks will spend New Year's Eve day in Indianapolis with a return to Summit League play against IUPUI on Saturday a 1 p.m. (CT).
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