MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois women's basketball (9-13, 5-6) never trailed on Saturday night in an 86-53 drubbing of Oakland (10-11, 6-6) and knocked down 15 three-pointers, which is the most ever in a game in program history. The previous high was on Dec. 12, 2009 against Illinois-Springfield with 14. Western also broke the program's season three-point record, which was set with 155 in 2007-08, and now has 157 triples this season.

The 33-point win is the biggest margin of victory over a Division I program since Dec. 31, 2005 when Western defeated Centenary, 83-37.

Saule Kontautaite hit six triples, which tied her for third-most in a single game in program history, and finished with a career-high 26 points. Sadie Webb knocked down five triples and finished with 19 points and a game-high nine boards.

Western only turned the ball over on eight occasions to go with its 50.7 percent shooting night including a 53.6 (15-for-28) clip from behind the arc. The last time the Leathernecks turned the ball over fewer than 10 times was against UMKC on March 8, 2008 when they also had eight.

The Leathernecks opened the game on a 7-2 run as Oakland struggled to find good looks on its end of the court. Sharise Calhoun drilled a corner three-pointer to cut the deficit to 7-4 at the 16:40 mark.

Michele Salvatori secured an offensive rebound and finished with a strong put back to give Western an 11-5 advantage with 14:36 left before halftime.

Webb found room from behind the arc and hit the triple to stretch Western's lead to 16-9 and forced Oakland's head coach Beckie Francis to call a timeout. The recent Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District selection drilled a second three to give the Purple & Gold a 24-15 lead.

Kontautaite hit another triple and followed with a steal and a fast break layup to extend the first-half lead to 29-15 at the 8:10 mark. The offensive bombardment continued as Kontautaite knocked down another deep ball making it 35-15 with just over five minutes left in the half.

Oakland was held scoreless for the final 4:47 of the first half and Western staked its claim to a 42-19 lead at the midway point. Eight three-pointers and 47.2 percent shooting from the field powered the Leatherneck offense. Kontautaite led all scorers with 13 points while Webb collected 11 through 20 minutes of action.

The Golden Grizzlies did not hit a three-pointer and shot just 31 percent from the field. However, Oakland's standout center Bethany Watterworth did pour in 11 first-half points.

Oakland came out of the locker room with better offensive execution but Western was able to weather the run and a 10th team three-pointer, this one from Webb, slowed Oakland's momentum. That triple made it 56-29 at the 14:11 mark.

The advantage reached the 30-point plateau with an uncontested layup from Rieger to make it 63-33 with 12:31 on the clock.

A 13th team three-pointer from Kontautaite would give Western 155 made triples this season to match the season record. The three points gave Western a 73-45 lead at the 7:26 mark.

Kontautaite broke the team three-pointer record with her sixth three-pointer of the night to give Western an 81-47 advantage with 3:11 left to play in the contest. 

The deficit reached a game-high 37 on the 15th three-pointer of the night, this one from Karis Phillips to make it 86-49.

The game would finish with Western winning 86-53, the second most points Western has scored this season.

Valencia Kelly finished with nine points, four rebounds and three assists and provided shutdown defense on the perimeter for the Leathernecks.

Oakland was paced by 17 points from Watterworth while Jenna Bachrouche collected 14 points. The Golden Grizzlies shot 37.3 percent and were 0-for-6 from three-point land.

Western Illinois will play host to IPFW on Monday night (Feb. 6) at 7 p.m.

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