MACOMB, Ill. – Sadie Webb recorded her second double-double of the year and two other players scored in double digits but it was not enough as Western Illinois fell to Southern Utah by a score of 65-53 on Saturday, Feb. 19 in the annual "Pink Zone" game. The Fighting Leathernecks (7-18, 5-10) struggled early on the offensive end, shooting just 22.2 percent (6-for-27) and scoring a season-low 15 first half points to allow the Thunderbirds (14-12, 8-7) to build a 33-15 halftime lead.
"It was really a tale of two halves tonight," said Western Illinois head coach Leslie Crane. "Southern Utah came ready to play and our team didn't. We got better in the second half but you can't score 15 first half points and expect to win."
Southern Utah never trailed in the contest as they scored the first points of the game on Challis Pascucci's jumper in the first minute. The Leathernecks would tie the game at 2-2 on Valencia Kelly's fast break layup one minute later but it was all Thunderbirds from there. Western Illinois was able to pull within one on three occasions in the early going, but Southern Utah used a 25-6 run over the final 12 minutes of the first half to enter the locker room with a 33-15 lead.
The second half was much of the same as the Thunderbirds led by as many as 20 points (37-17) and never had a lead of less than 13 points until the closing minute.
Christina Jones hit a three-pointer to pull the Leathernecks within 10 (63-53) with 45 seconds remaining but Andrea Jones answered with a jumper with 17 seconds left to make the final 65-53. Webb paced the Leathernecks with 12 points and 11 rebounds but was 0-for-4 from beyond the arc. Anne Borgertpoepping scored 11 points while Kelly finished with 10. Jackie Barton grabbed seven rebounds and dished out three assists. Pascucci led all scorers with 18 points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds. Jones finished with 15 points while Caitlyn Sears had 12 for the Thunderbirds. Tayler Anderson grabbed 11 boards and Kaila Goff dished out eight assists.
The Leathernecks shot 33.9 percent (20-for-59) from the floor and were just 3-for-16 from beyond the arc. Southern Utah shot 41.3 percent (26-for-63) from the floor and grabbed 45 rebounds to Western's 39.
Western Illinois committed 21 turnovers, which the Thunderbirds converted into 23 points. Southern Utah also outscored the Leathernecks in the pain by a 34-22 count.
The loss keeps the Leathernecks in eighth place in The Summit League Standings with three games remaining. Western Illinois returns to action for its final home game on Monday night at 7 p.m. against UMKC.
