MACOMB, Ill. - The road trip continues for Western Illinois (5-9, 2-2) women's basketball and will take them to Oakland (6-8, 2-3) for a Monday (Jan. 9) clash with the Golden Grizzlies at 5:30 p.m. (CT).

The Leathernecks were unable to improve its record in Indiana to 3-0 after wins at Valparaiso and IUPUI earlier this season. The Mastodons put a stop to the Indiana winning streak with a 73-54 victory on Saturday.

IPFW used 28 points-in-the-paint, 18 points off turnovers and 15 second-chance points to power its way to The Summit League victory. IPFW's defense held the Leathernecks to just 54 points, the third fewest this season.
 

The Match Up
Who: Western Illinois (5-9, 2-2) at Oakland (6-8, 2-3)
When: Monday, January 9 at 5:30 p.m. (CT)
Location: Rochester, Mich.
Arena: Athletics Center O'rena (3,000)
Coverage
Radio • WIUS (88.3 FM, Macomb) Flagship station
Live WIUS radio broadcast (Free)
Play-by-Play: Michael Broskowski Color Analyst: Ryne Thorson
Streaming • Golden Grizzlies All-Access (Subscription)
Live Stats • OUGrizzlies.com (free)

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GRIZZLIES: Head Coach Beckie Francis (Colgate, 1987) is in her 12th season at Oakland (213-133). Last season OU went 20-12 and 12-6 (4th) in the Summit League and eventually fell to South Dakota State in the Summit League Championship. Oakland returns four starters and four other letterwinners. This season, the Golden Grizzlies is 6-8 and 2-3 in the League. Most recently, OU took down IUPUI at home 54-50. Bethany Watterworth scored 27 points of those 54 points while no other player score in double-digits. Oakland also have also collected victories over Clemson and UMKC. The Golden Grizzlies also hold the all-time advantage over Western 20-8 including 12 of the last 13. Western's one win came on March 6, 2010.

GOLDEN GRIZZLIES TO WATCH: Junior center Bethany Watterworth was a preseason First Team All-Summit League and has done nothing to prove the voters wrong. The 5-11 Lake Orion, Mich native is averaging 18.9 and 5.3 rebounds per game and came into the weekend fourth in the league in scoring. Brittany Carnago is pouring in 8.1 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game. She also leads the team with 34 assists. Zakiya Minifee is averaging 8.0 points per game and a team-high 7.0 rebounds per game. As a team, OU is shooting 39 percent from the field, 26 percent from behind the arc and 67 percent from the 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.

WEBB LEADING THE WAY: No surprise that after eight games senior Sadie Webb leads the team in scoring (13.6). 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. After three straight single-digit games, Webb has strung together four consecutive such performances. The senior has reached double-digits in 67 percent (28/42) 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. She leads the team with 8.3 rpg a game including 40 offensive rebounds this season of her 113 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. Salvatori also was the key in the 14-point second half comeback at IUPUI on New Year's Eve as she turned in her third double-double with 17 points and 11 boards. Salvatori scored seven points in the final minute including a three-pointer to give the Leathernecks the lead with 44 seconds remaining.

$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 tied for the team with 22 made three-pointers with Sadie Webb. Kontautaite was another key member of the comeback at IUPUI as she knocked down three key triples inside The Jungle.

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 need to be able to knock down the shots from behind the arc in order to be successful as Summit League play continues. In the emotional victory at IUPUI, Western 9-for-19 from three including a 6-for-8 performance in the second half. Michele Salvatori and Saule Kontautaite both collected three triples while Valencia Kelly, Rebecca Henricson and Sadie Webb all knocked down one a piece.

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. The Leathernecks made only four trips to the free-throw line against William Woods (Dec. 27), making half of those. At IUPUI, the Leathernecks used 12-second half Jaguar turnovers to collect 20 points to steal the New Year's Eve victory. At IPFW, the Mastodons lead by as many as 21 and the closest the Leathernecks would get in the second half would be five at 36-31 with 16:44 left in the game.

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 Purple & Gold will return home for two Summit League contests. The first  with Southern Utah on Jan. 14 at 4:30 p.m. in game one of a doubleheader inside Western Hall.

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