COMPLETE GAME NOTES
MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois women's basketball team hits the road for the start of a two-game road trip this Thursday, November 20, as the Leathernecks travel to Chicago to take on Chicago State, with first tip Thursday set for 7 p.m. The Leathernecks enter the game at 1-1, while the Cougars are 0-1 on the season. 

BROADCAST INFORMATION: 
Live Radio: Leatherneck Sports Network (94.3FM WKXQ or wrmsfm.com)
Live Stats: gocsucougars.com

SCOUTING THE COUGARS: Chicago State is 0-1 on the season, dropping its lone contest of the season, a 102-48 victory for Northwestern. Konner Harris and Layne Murphy led the way for the Cougars, scoring 11 points each, while Layne also recorded a team-high four rebounds. Chicago State struggled in all facets of the game, as they committed 39 turnovers while only picking up six assists. Head coach Angela Jackson in in her 12th season at the helm of the Cougar program, and holds the Chicago State record for most wins as a head coach with 123. 

SERIES HISTORY: The Leathernecks hold a commanding 31-2 edge in the all-time series, but the Cougars got the best of the Purple and Gold the last time the two teams met. Western Illinois and Chicago state met two seasons ago for a nonconference game in the middle of the season, with the Cougars edging the Leathernecks, 56-54. Prior to that game, Western had won 13 straight meetings between the two programs.

LAST TIME OUT: Western Illinois opened its home portion of the schedule Monday (Nov. 17), as they hosted William Woods in nonconference action. William Woods, an NAIA affiliate, kept the game close in the opening minutes, as they trailed by a 10-9 score. From there, Western Illinois used a 17-2 run to pull away and never looked back. Seven different Leathernecks scored during the run which extended the lead to 27-11. It would be a sign of things to come, as all 13 Leathernecks who dressed scored against the Owls. A strong defensive performance by Western held William Woods to 12 made field goals, while forcing the Owls to turn the ball over 24 times. Western's 10 made there-point field goals was the most for the team since knocking down 10 at Fort Wayne on Feb. 27, 2014. The Leathernecks also recorded 25 assists for the first time since reaching the same total in a game against Denver on Feb. 20, 2014. The seven blocked shots was the most Western Illinois has tallied since blocking seven against Saint Louis on Nov. 30, 2013.

ROSTER DEPTH: Head coach JD Gravina has showcased his deep roster that he has this season, as he has used different starting lineups in each game. All 13 players who have dressed have appeared in each game, and 12-of-13 players played more than 10 minutes against William Woods. Western's bench was on display against William Woods, as they scored 40 of the team's 89 points.

LEATHERNECKS GARNER PRESEASON RECOGNITION: Junior forward Ashley Luke and junior guard Michelle Maher each collected preseason accolades in The Summit League annual preseason voting. Luke was named the league's 'Preseason Player of the Year' while also being named a Fourth Team All Mid-Major selection by collegesportsmadness.com. ESPNW also named Luke as one of the top-10 mid-major players to watch this upcoming season. Maher was tabbed Summit League Preseason Second Team. The Leathernecks were slated to finish fourth this season according to the poll. The fourth place projection is the highest mark for the Leatherneck program since the 2006-07 season when the Purple and Gold were picked to finish fourth as well.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: The Leathernecks were the top team in The Summit League a season ago in seven different statistical categories, leading the league in assist to turnover ratio (1.16), assists per game (18), field-goal percentage (45.3), fewest fouls per game (14.9), scoring offense (79.9), steals per game (9.5), and turnover margin (2.4). Individually, Ashley Luke led the league in double-doubles (19) and rebounds per game (10.50). At the end of last season Luke's 26 career double-doubles ranked tied for 24th in the country among active Division I players. Due to the departure of graduating seniors on the list, Luke will begin the 2014-15 campaign tied for ninth in the country. 

BY THE NUMBERS: In head coach JD Gravina's tenure, the Leathernecks are 31-13 when scoring at least 70 points. When scoring 69-or-fewer points, Western is 10-39 over the same timespan. The Leathernecks also know how to close out a late lead, as they are 33-5 under Gravina when leading with five minutes remaining.

VETERAN RETURNERS: The Leathernecks return a veteran lineup to the court in 2014-15. Western Illinois brings back 82.6% of its scoring from a year ago, and seven players return who played in all 30 games. Three of those seven players, Ashley Luke, Michelle Maher and Tori Niemann, started in all 30 games for the Purple and Gold.

RECORD BREAKERS: The Leathernecks broke seven program records a season ago, with junior Ashley Luke single-handedly breaking five program records. Luke set the top mark in points scored (623), scoring average (20.8), field goals made (223), free throws made (177) and free throws attempted (255). As a team, the Fighting Leathernecks set program records in points scored (2,392) and field goals made (846).

IMPROVEMENT UNDER GRAVINA: In his three years at the helm of the Leatherneck basketball program, head coach JD Gravina has recorded more wins (26) in his first two years at Western Illinois than any other coach in program history, while his 40 wins in his first three years ranks second all-time for most wins over the first three years (Leslie Crane, 41, 1998-00). Gravina has also produced three All-Summit League selections as well as two 'Newcomers of the Year'. 

LUKE LANDS LINCOLN LAUREATE: It was announced on Oct. 29 that junior forward Ashley Luke (Oak Creek, Wisconsin) had been named the Western Illinois University recipient of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois' Student Laureate Award for 2014. The award, presented annually to an outstanding senior of each of Illinois' four-year degree-granting institutions, honors a student's overall academic excellence and extracurricular activities. Luke, a senior political science and journalism double major, will also be named the College Scholar for the WIU College of Arts and Sciences this semester and plans to pursue a master's degree in economics from Western.

ROSTER ADDITIONS: The team welcomes five new members to the program this season. Jenna Mueller has been added to the program as a graduate school transfer and will be immediately eligible for Western Illinois after appearing in 85 career games for Saint Louis University. Junior Krystal Corhn will also be immediately eligible to play this season after transferring from Highland Community College. Sophomore Taylor McClintock joins the Western family after spending her freshman year at Mercer and will redshirt this upcoming season to meet NCAA transfer requirements. The program added two freshmen to the roster in Emily Clemens and Tayler Miller. Clemens, a native of Muscatine, Iowa, was a two-time All-State honoree, earning First Team honors her senior year. As a senior, Clemens was also named the 'Conference Player of the Year'. Miller hails from St. Louis, Missouri where she concluded her high school career as the program's all-time leading scorer and rebounder.  

SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM: Western Illinois excelled in the classroom this past season, posting the fifth-highest GPA among Division I women's basketball programs. The Leathernecks recorded a cumulative team GPA of 3.607, highest among all programs in The Summit League. Five current members of the team were named to The Summit League Academic Honor in 2013-14, posting a minimum 3.0 grade point average. Of the five, three earned the Distinguished Scholar award: Ashley Luke, Tori Niemann and Liz Skotowski. During the Spring 2014 semester Michelle Farrow, Luke, and Niemann earned a 4.0 GPA.

BASKETBALL INKS ONE FOR 2015: Head coach JD Gravina announced that Taylor Higginbotham (Germantown, Wis., Germantown) has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Western Illinois women's basketball program in 2015. Higginbotham, a 5-10 guard, averaged 13.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.7 steals per game last season for the Warhawks. Higginbotham is also a member of the Wisconsin Lakers AAU team which produced current Leathernecks Ashley Luke, Faith Lois, and Michelle Farrow.

SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN: The Leathernecks will compete in a total of 29 regular season games as well as one exhibition game in 2014-15. Western will play 14 regular season games at home in Western Hall and will hit the road for 15 contests. The Leathernecks have a schedule that includes marquee match-ups against teams from the SEC (Missouri), Big East (Marquette), Conference USA (Florida Atlantic), and Horizon League (UIC).  

LEROY A. UFKES COURT: Western Hall, home of the men's and women's basketball programs, received a new court this offseason thanks to a donation from the family of a Western Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame member. LeRoy A. Ufkes Court is named after the 1996 Hall of Fame inductee, a supporter of the WIU Athletic Department for over 25 years. The new look is thanks to a donation from Joan Ufkes and the late LeRoy Ufkes. 

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.