Skip To Main Content

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Western Illinois University Athletics

WBB_NDSU_FP
WIU Visual Productions Center
66
North Dakota State NDSUWBB 9-11 (5-3)
88
Winner Western Illinois WIU 12-8 (4-3)
North Dakota State NDSUWBB
9-11 (5-3)
66
Final
88
Western Illinois WIU
12-8 (4-3)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
North Dakota State NDSUWBB 31 35 66
Western Illinois WIU 39 49 88

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Career Day for Sophie Reichelt Leads Leathernecks Past Bison, 88-66

Western Illinois uses 33-7 run secure Summit League victory

MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois women's basketball team was back in action Saturday (Jan. 24) afternoon, as the team played host to North Dakota State in Summit League action. Sophie Reichelt's career day led the way as the Leathernecks knocked off the Bison by an 88-66 decision. Western improves to 4-3 in league play, and 12-8 overall, with the 22-point decision. NDSU, who was second in the league prior to the game, falls to 9-11 (5-3)

Reichelt led all scorers with 24 points, the second-highest scoring output from Reichelt this year. The Mill Creek, Washington, native brought in a career-high 18 rebounds and swatted away a career-best five shots. Ashley Luke recorded her 11th double-double of the season with 18 points and 13 rebounds and extended her double figure streak to 56 consecutive games.

"She just had the game of her life. Her mentality, she was a whole different person," said head coach JD Gravina. "She's had that throughout this year but it was good to see that Sophie back. I told her it's not about hitting the shots, that was nice, but her rebounding effort and her defensive effort, it was like she was everywhere. She's a kid that'd worked really hard her freshman and sophomore year without much results in terms of playing time. I think that's really neat for her and it's a good example for other kids too that if you continue to work hard and earn your opportunity you can make most of it. To have a player like her I think going down the stretch, someone else that can rebound, someone else that can space the defense, I think she's really huge for us."

After a back and forth affair, the Leathernecks were able to take an eight point lead into the break thanks to an 11-2 run. Trailing by one with 1:30 left to play in the opening frame, Michelle Maher knocked down a three to get the run started. Maher, who was honored prior to the game for becoming Western Illinois' all-time three-point field goal leader, would end the game with five points and a game-high eight assists.

Following Maher's triple, Reichelt collected a rebound and led the fast break en route to an easy lay-in. Michelle Farrow answered with a three of her own and Reichelt would beat the buzzer with a deep three to give Western a 39-31 lead at the break.

The Leathernecks would open the floodgates in the opening minutes of the second half to put the game out of reach. Over the first 5:37 of the second half, the Purple and Gold went on a 20-3 run to build a 25-point lead.

"We talked about that mentality, sometimes we call it sharks to blood, when you have someone down you have to continue to push," said Gravina. "The game was a long way from over. It was nice to score off a set play right at the beginning of the second half, that's something we've struggled with. We blew that thing open fast and that was fun. And that's the mentality we should have, not let's try to blow this game but let's try to put this away."

Western would cruise through the second half, as NDSU could only cut the lead to as little as 18. As soon as the Bison got the deficit to 18, the Leathernecks responded with a 13-5 run to secure the victory. Western would snap its two-game losing streak with the league win.

Tori Niemann was the third Leatherneck to reach double-figures, as she ended the day with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting.

As a team, the Leathernecks shot 45.7% (32-70) while limiting NDSU to 33.8% (27-80) as a team. Western Illinois dominated the glass and paint, as they outrebounded the Bison 55-39 and outscored them down low by a 44-20 margin.

The Leathernecks return to action next Thursday (Jan. 29), as they play host to IUPUI. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. inside Western Hall.
Print Friendly Version