MACOMB, Ill. - A trip to Charleston, Ill. to face Eastern Illinois is next for Western Illinois (3-4, 1-1) women's basketball. The 50th meeting between the two programs will tip-off at 7 p.m. on Monday night inside Lantz Arena. Eastern leads the all-time series 32-17, with the last meeting coming on Dec. 7, 2000. The Leathernecks won that battle, 71-69, at Eastern Illinois.

Western Illinois women's basketball started the weekend with a 68-65 win over North Dakota State on Friday night. An impressive first half gave the Leathernecks a 10-point lead at the break and would hold on for its first Summit League victory.

Joining Saule Kontautaite in double-figures (17) was Salvatori and Kelly, both collecting 15 points. Salvatori also pulled down a game-high seven rebounds while Kelly dished out a career-high six assists.

Western's bench outscored the Bison's bench 26-11 on the night while collecting eight fast break points to NDSU's zero.

DeGagne led the Bison with 18 points while Burich collected 16 points and six rebounds.

The Match Up
Who: Western Illinois (3-4, 1-1) at Eastern Illinois (4-1, 0-0)
When: Monday, December 5 at 7 p.m.
Location: Charleston, Ill.
Arena: Lantz Arena (5,300)

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

Streaming • OVCSports.TV (Subscription)

Live Stats • EIUPanthers.com (Free)

SCOUTING THE PANTHERS: Head Coach Brady Sallee (Thomas Moore College) is in his eighth season (118-102) leading EIU's women's basketball program. Last season, Eastern went 18-13 including a 13-5 mark in the OVC (T3rd). The Panthers return 10 letterwinners from that squad including all five starters. This season, has blitzed opponents, scoring an average of 82.6 points per game including 93 on two occasions. EIU won its first four games including victories over Oakland City, Bradley, Illinois State and San Jose State. Most recently, the Panthers fell at Sacramento State, 89-85, for its first and only loss of the season. Eastern leads the all-time series 32-17 including a 14-game winning streak by EIU from 1980-1988. Western has take the last two meetings, most recently on Dec. 7, 2000 in Charleston, 71-69.

PANTHERS TO WATCH: The Panthers return all five starters from its 13-5 OVC season in 2010-11. Four of those starters are averaging double-digits this season. Ta'Kenya Nixon leads the team with 15.6 ppg while pulling down 5.8  and handing out 5.4 apg. Mariah King is contributing 12.6 ppg and a team-high 8.0 rpg. Sydney Mitchell is averaging 11.8 ppg while Kelsey Wyss is at 10.4 ppg.

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 three games senior Sadie Webb leads the team in scoring (15.7). 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 8 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. The senior has reached double-digits in 69 percent (24/35) 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 9.0 rpg a game including 18 offensive rebounds this season of her 54 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 Friday night 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.

SECOND HALF SURGES: The Purple & Gold have been a second half team this season. Against UIS (exhibition), 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). Friday's game with North Dakota State was marked by a strong first half by Western and the Leathernecks were able to hang on for the three-point victory. On the season, the Leathernecks have outscored their opponents 269-261 in second halves as opposed to being outscored 247-193 in the first half.

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.

FRESHMAN DEAD EYE: Lindsay Carroll is shooting 48 percent (10-for-21) 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. The 48 percent clip would be second all-time in program history. Currently, Michelle Nason has the record (with a min. of 50 attempts) with her 49 percent (47-of-95) in 1990-991.

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 Leathernecks continue its break from Summit League play with a trip to face Big Ten member, Iowa, on Monday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.

@wiuathletics