Leathernecks Fall to Florida Atlantic on Heartbreaking Buzzer-Beater

Road loss overshadows career days by Luke, Reichelt

Box Score

BOCA RATON, FLA. - Western Illinois dropped a heartbreaking decision Sunday afternoon (Nov. 23) to Florida Atlantic, as Ali Gorrell's layup as time expired pushed the Owls past the Leathernecks, 90-88. Sophie Reichelt and Ashley Luke recorded career days for the Purple and Gold, as the team fell to 2-2 on the season.

"We were the more aggressive team in the first half which is how we built the big lead, but Florida Atlantic was the much more aggressive team in the second half, and it cost us," said head coach JD Gravina. "Sophie (Reichelt) hit that big '3' at the end to tie things up and give us a chance, but it wasn't enough."

Trailing by three points with 14 seconds left, Malia Kency missed a pair of free throws to give the Leathernecks hope. Reichelt grabbed the rebound and pushed the ball up court quickly to freshman guard Emily Clemens. Clemens drove the lane and kicked the pass out to Reichelt who drilled a deep three with 4.6 seconds left to tie things up at 88. After a Leatherneck timeout, Florida Atlantic got the ball into the hands of Gorrell who drove the length of the court and hit a layup off the glass as time expired to give Florida Atlantic the thrilling victory.

After the first 20 minutes of play, it didn't look like the game would come down to the wire as Western dominated play en route to a 57-43 lead headed into halftime. The first half lead was built off the play of Reichelt and Luke. Reichelt went 9-of-11 from the field, including 2-of-2 from three, and scored 22 points in the half. She would finish the game with 29 points, a new career-high for the junior forward. Luke ended the first half with 12 points, but it was the 10th point that Luke scored that put her into Leatherneck history. Entering the game with 990 career points, Luke became just the 14th Leatherneck in program history to join the 1,000 point club. Her 16 points in the game moves her into a tie for 13th all time with 1,006.

Western shot at a blistering 68.6% clip from the field (24-35) in the first half, and held advantages in rebounding (17-11), points in the paint (28-18), and points off of turnover (13-3). The Purple and Gold limited Gorrell, Florida Atlantic's leading scorer, to just six points on 3-of-9 shooting.

Gorrell would begin to heat up and FAU stormed back to take their first lead since the opening minutes of the game where they led 2-0. The Owls used a 17-2 run over 4:30 to take a 67-66 lead on the visiting Leathernecks. Gorrell would score 18 points in the second half while freshman Malia Kency tied a FAU Arena record with seven made three-point field goals.

FAU would build the lead up to as many as seven points late in the second half, but the Leathernecks found a way to get back into the game. The team used a 7-1 run down the stretch to tie things up before Gorrell sunk Western's comeback efforts at the buzzer.

Reichelt (29), Luke (16), Michelle Maher (12), and Tori Niemann (11) all scored in double figures for Western, with Luke now having 41 consecutive games scoring in double digits. Maher paced the team with nine rebounds, while Luke (4) and Clemens (3) contributed assists.

The Leathernecks have a quick turnaround, as the team returns home to face Kansas City in a nonconference game on Tuesday (Nov. 25). Tuesday is 'Kids Day', as hundreds of local grade schoolers will be in attendance to cheer on the Leathernecks. Tip-off is set for 11 a.m. inside Western Hall.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Ashley Luke: F; 6' 1"; Junior

#14 Michelle Maher: G; 5' 9"; Junior

#15 Emily Clemens: G; 5' 4"; Freshman

#21 Tori Niemann: G; 5' 11"; Senior

#44 Sophie Reichelt: F; 6' 2"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#5 Ashley Luke
: 6' 1"; Junior
: F

#14 Michelle Maher
: 5' 9"; Junior
: G

#15 Emily Clemens
: 5' 4"; Freshman
: G

#21 Tori Niemann
: 5' 11"; Senior
: G

#44 Sophie Reichelt
: 6' 2"; Junior
: F