MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois Fighting Leathernecks wrap up the first half of Summit League play on Thursday, January 29, as the Leathernecks play host to IUPUI inside Western Hall. Tip-off between Western Illinois and the Jaguars is slated for 7 p.m. The Purple and Gold, fresh off of a 22 point victory over NDSU, is 4-3 in league play and 12-8 overall. IUPUI enters the contest with an identical 4-3 Summit League record while holding a 9-11 record on the season. Thursday's contest will also be the annual Summit League Food Fight game, with fans being encouraged to donate as much canned food as they would like. Five cans of food can be exchanged for a free general admission ticket while two cans of donated food will result in a free youth general admission ticket.

BROADCAST INFORMATION: 
Live Radio: Leatherneck Sports Network (94.3 FM WRMS or wrmsfm.com)
Live Stream: Leatherneck All-Access (accessible via goleathernecks.com/watch)
Live Stats: Goleathernecks.com

SCOUTING IUPUI: The Jaguars come to Macomb following a 68-43 victory over South Dakota last weekend. Nevena Markovic and Shaquira Scott lead the offense as they average 10.4 and 10.2 points per game, respectively. The defensive rebounding efforts are evenly split, as Markovic (5.6) and Jenna Gunn (5.2) lead the way. IUPUI is led by head coach Austin Parkinson, a former Purdue basketball standout, who is currently in his fifth season. The Jaguars are on a two-game winning streak after winning a pair of home games over Denver and South Dakota.

SERIES HISTORY: Western Illinois leads the all-time series, 24-12, but the Jaguars have had the upper hand as of late, as they have claimed the last five meetings. Prior to the five-game winning streak for IUPUI, Western Illinois had won six-straight games in the series. The Leathernecks had a successful run from 2002-2007 in which the team won 11 consecutive games.

LAST TIME OUT: Sophie Reichelt's career day led the way as the Leathernecks knocked off North Dakota State by an 88-66 decision this past Saturday (Jan. 24) inside Western Hall. The Leathernecks 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. 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.

MAHER BREAKS THE RECORD: In Western Illinois' victory over Denver on Jan. 15, Michelle Maher became the program leader in career three pointers, passing Amanda Walker for the top spot. A 5-of-7 shooting performance against the Pioneers gave Maher 147 career three pointers, surpassing Walker's career total of 146.

THE STREAK CONTINUES: Dating back to the end of her freshman campaign, Ashley Luke has been one of the most consistent players in the country, as she has registered 57 straight games of 10 or more points. During the streak, Luke has scored exactly 10 points twice, 11-15 points 14 times, 16-20 points 20 times, 21-25 points 11 times, 25-30 points six times, and 31+ points four times. Her career-high is 35 points, which she scored against South Dakota in the first round of the 2014 Summit League Tournament. Luke's streak is the second-longest known streak in the nation, with Kelsey Minato of Army's streak of 66-straight games (as of Jan. 22) being the only known streak longer than Luke's.

LONG BALL AMONG NATIONS BEST: Western Illinois has found success from beyond the arc this season, having made 172 field goals from three-point range. The Leathernecks' average of 8.6 made three-point field goals per game is among the best in Division I, as the team ranks ninth nationally. The team hit 14 triples in its victory over Denver, tied for the fifth most in a game in Leatherneck history.

NONCONFERENCE SUCCESS: Western Illinois posted an 8-5 nonconference mark this season, one of the best nonconference records in recent history for the Leathernecks. The eight wins matches the most nonconference wins under JD Gravina, as his squad a year ago also recorded eight wins. The .615 winning percentage in nonconference games this season is the best winning percentage for a Leatherneck team since the 2005-06 team that went on to finish 23-7 and claim the Mid-Con regular season title.

DISHING THE ROCK: Coach JD Gravina said that he would like to see junior Michelle Maher lead the league in assists this season, and she is in contention for the top spot. Maher currently ranks second the league in assists per game, and ranks 70th nationally, with 4.6 assists per game. Maher also does a great job of not turning the ball over, as her 2.26 assist to turnover ratio ranks first in the  league (31st nationally).

FARROW HOT FROM DEEP: Redshirt freshman Michelle Farrow has been the team leader from beyond the arc this year, with a team-best 37 made three pointers. Farrow was hot from deep during a six game stretch for the Leathernecks (Nov. 29 through Dec. 21), as Farrow shot 65% from three-point range (17-of-26). On the year Farrow is shooting 45.7% from long distance. At one point this season, Farrow was fourth nationally in three-point field goal percentage. 

KNOCKING EM DOWN FROM THE CHARITY STRIPE: The Leatherneck went 4-0 to open 2015 and much of the success can be attributed to the team's performance at the free throw line. In the four games, the team shot a combined 86% from the free throw line. Western Illinois was 9-of-10 against Eureka, went 19-of-20 to end nonconference against Milwaukee, was 35-40 in the conference opener against Fort Wayne, and shot 19-of-25 against Omaha. Combined, the team was 82-of-95 during the stretch. This season, Tori Niemann is shooting a team-best 85.2% from the free throw line.

LUKE JOINS 1,000 POINT CLUB: Junior Ashley Luke entered Leatherneck history during Western Illinois' contest against Florida Atlantic on Nov. 24, as she became just the 14th player in program history to record 1,000 career points. Luke becomes the first Leatherneck to join the club since Zane Teilane, who was a member of Western Illinois from 2003-2006.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: The Leathernecks are the top team in The Summit League in seven different statistical categories, leading the league in 3 point field goals per game (8.6), assist to turnover ratio (1.21), steals per game (8.8), fewest fouls per game (15.6), assists per game (6.2), fewest turnovers per game (13.4), and turnover margin (+2.05). Individually, Ashley Luke leads the league in field goal percentage among qualified candidates (50.0) while Michelle Maher is tops in assist to turnover ratio (2.23).

ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS: In just over two seasons at Western Illinois Ashley Luke has proven herself to be one of the top players in today's game. Her 37 career double-doubles are the 9th most among active Division 1 players, while her career average of 9.3 rebounds per game ranks 11th on the active career leaders list. Luke has also averaged 16.2 points per game which ranks in the top 15 among active players who have scored at least 1,000 career points.

ROSTER DEPTH: Head coach JD Gravina has showcased the deep roster that he has at his disposal this season. Seven games have seen 13 players record minutes, while five game have had 12 Leathernecks check in. 10 different players are averaging over 10 minutes a game for the Purple and Gold on the year. The Leathernecks started games in a variety of ways, having used five different starting lineups over the first 10 games of the season.

UMKC DRAWS RECORD CROWD: Western Illinois' first ever 'Elementary Day' was a success on and off the court, with over 1,000 students in attendance as the Leathernecks hosted UMKC on November 25. With the aid of the students, the game drew 1,443 fans inside Western Hall, a new women's basketball attendance record.

BY THE NUMBERS: In head coach JD Gravina's tenure, the Leathernecks are 41-17 when scoring at least 70 points. When scoring 69-or-fewer points, Western is 11-42 over the same timespan. The Leathernecks also know how to close out a late lead, as they are 44-5 under Gravina when leading with five minutes remaining.

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.

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.