MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois (4-8, 1-1) women's basketball will attempt to ring in the New Year with a victory as Summit League play resumes in Indianapolis against IUPUI (5-8, 1-1) on Saturday at 1 p.m. (CT). The Purple & Gold took both games last season from the Jaguars. Both were close as Western won both by a combined four points.

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.

Four Leathernecks scored in double-figures, accounting for 83 percent of the offense on the night for the Purple & Gold. Joining Salvatori was Valencia Kelly with 18 while also dishing out five assists, Sadie Webb with 14 and Brittany Demery with 11. Jackie Rieger finish with a career-high 10-rebound performance.

The Match Up
Who: Western Illinois (4-8, 1-1) at IUPUI (5-8, 1-1)
When: Saturday, December 31 at 1 p.m. (CT)
Location: Indianapolis, Ind.
Arena: The Jungle (1,215)
Coverage
Radio • WIUS (88.3 FM, Macomb) Flagship station
Live WIUS radio broadcast (Free)
Play-by-Play: Michael Broskowski Color Analyst: Ryne Thorson
Streaming • IUPUI All-Access (Subscription)
Live Stats • IUPUIJags.com (Free)

SCOUTING THE JAGUARS: Head Coach Austin Parkinson (Purdue, 2004) is in his second season (9-32) at the helm of the IUPUI women's program. Last season, the Jaguars went 4-24 including a 2-16 (9th) mark in Summit League action. The squad returns three starters and seven letterwinners from 2010-11 and added eight newcomers. This season, IUPUI is off to a 5-8 start and 1-1 in The Summit League. On, Wednesday (Dec. 28) the Jaguars snapped a five-game losing streak with a 82-43 victory over Marygrove College. Other wins this season came against St. Francis (NY), Florida Atlantic, Lamar and North Dakota State. The Jags trail the all-time series against the Leathernecks, 23-7, Western took both last season but only by a combined four points

JAGUARS TO WATCH: Kerah Nelson leads the team with 15.9 points per game and is tied for the lead with 5.8 rebounds per game with Nevena Markovic. Nelson turned in a 27-point performance in her last outing. Katie Comello contributes 9.8 points per game and leads the team with 50 assists and has the most three-pointers on the roster (19). Markovic also leads the team with 23 blocks while averaging 9.4 points per game. Point guard Emily Phillips leads the team in minutes played with 29.9 per game. Del'Niqua Bellamy leads the team with 34 thefts. As a team, IUPUI are shooting 37 percent from the field, 25 percent from behind the arc and 67 percent from the charity stripe.

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.

STEP ONE: The JD Gravina era officially began with a win as Western Illinois defeated Hannibal-LaGrange 87-65 on 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 (14.4). 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 68 percent (27/40) 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 are 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 8.1 rpg a game including 35 offensive rebounds this season of her 97 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 on against North Dakota State.The junior missed all of last season due to injury and seemed to regain some confidence during the first half on Saturday night. 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 20 successful triples.

EFFICIENCY: Western was extremely effective and efficient against William Woods (Dec. 27) with its offensive execution. The Purple & Gold used 24 assists on 31 field goals to power its way to the 73-52 victory. It was the most assists since the Leathernecks recorded 25 at Centenary on Jan. 21, 2008.

LIVE & DIE: The Purple & Gold have attempted 89 three-point field goals in its last four contests. Western connected on 23 of those were attempts (26%) and on the season Western is shooting 30 percent (77-of-261) from behind the arc. Three Leathernecks lead the deep ball crusade as Sadie Webb, Saule Kontautaite, Lindsay Carroll and Michele Salvatori all have at least 35 attempts. The Leathernecks found their stroke against William Woods (Dec. 27), hitting nine three-pointers including the first three attempts of the second half to pull away from the Owls. Salvatori also regained her early season form and connected on four of her six attempts from behind the arc.

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.

BITS & PIECES: Western Illinois collected a 20-2 advantage in second chance points against UNO on 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. The Leathernecks made only four trips to the free-throw line against William Woods (Dec. 27), making half of those.

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 women will return to Indiana to continue Summit League play and square off with the Mastodons of IPFW on Jan. 7 at 11 a.m. (CT).

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