MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois Fighting Leathernecks look to pick up its fourth consecutive win of the season Sunday afternoon, as the team hosts Omaha in conference action. Tip-off is slated for 3:30 p.m. and will immediately follow the conclusion of the WIU men's game against Omaha. The Leathernecks enter the game with a 1-0 mark in league play, 9-5 overall, and look to start out conference play with a 2-0 record for the first time since 2007-08. The Mavericks come to Macomb 5-8 overall, 0-1 in league action.

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: WIU Stats

SCOUTING OMAHA: Omaha comes into Sunday's contest with a 5-8 record, 0-1 in league play. The Mavs, who were slated to finish eighth in the league, dropped a 64-48 decision against South Dakota to open league play. Omaha is led by head coach Brittany Lange, who is in her second year with the Omaha program. The team features two players who average 10+ points a game, as Mikaela Shaw (12.6) and Brianna Bogard (12.3) lead the attack. Shaw is also the team's leading rebounder, averaging 9.9 boards per contest. Lanese Bough, who has appeared in every game this season while making seven starts, leads the team with 58 assists

SERIES HISTORY: The Leathernecks lead the all-time series between the two schools, 4-2. Last season Western Illinois was able to sweep the season series after collecting a 84-62 road victory in January and claiming a 71-65 decision at home in early February. 

LAST TIME OUT:  Trailing by 14 points in the second half, Western Illinois used a key 28-5 run to storm back against Fort Wayne en route to a 98-85 women's basketball victory Friday (Jan. 2) evening. Five Leathernecks scored in double-figures as the team moves to 1-0 in league play, 9-5 overall. The Mastodons fell to 6-8 (0-1) with the loss. In the opening minutes of the second half it looked like Fort Wayne would run the Leathernecks out of the building, as the Mastodons opened the half on a 7-0 run to give extend the Fort Wayne lead to 54-40. With 16:34 left in the half, Michelle Farrow knocked down a three to end the Fort Wayne run. Farrow, who scored four points in the opening half, proved to be a key contributor in the second half as she was 4-of-6 from beyond the arc in the final 20 minutes. After getting some momentum its way, Western Illinois would start to roll and cut into the Mastodon lead, getting the deficit down to five after a pair of Ashley Luke free throws. Rachel Rinehart, who scored a career high 31 points in the losing effort, hit a layup to push the Fort Wayne lead back up to seven with 11:34 left to play. From there, it was all Leathernecks, as the team would go on a 28-5 run over the next 7:32 to take the lead. The final 15 points for Western Illinois all came from the charity stripe, and the team was 15-of-16 from the free throw line during the final four minutes. Clemens was a perfect 6-for-6, Luke hit all four of her attempts, Niemann added a pair, and Maher was 3-of-4. Western was 23-of-26 from the free throw line in the second half, and was 35-of-40 for the game (87.5%).

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.

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 51 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 16 times, 21-25 points 11 times, 25-30 points five times, and 31+ points three times. Her career-high is 35 points, which she scored against South Dakota in the first round of the 2014 Summit League Tournament.

LONG BALL AMONG NATIONS BEST: Western Illinois has found success from beyond the arc this season, having made 117 field goals from three-point range. The Leathernecks' average of 9.1 made three-point field goals per game is among the best in Division I, as the team ranks sixth nationally.

DISHING THE ROCK: Coach JD Gravina said that he would like to see junior Michelle Maher lead the conference in assists this season, and she is well on her way to doing that. Maher currently leads the league in assists per game, and ranks 57th nationally, with 4.7 assists per game. Maher also does a great job of not turning the ball over, as her 2.13 assist to turnover ratio is also tops in the league (52nd nationally).

FARROW HOT FROM DEEP: Redshirt freshman Michelle Farrow was hot from deep during a six game stretch for the Leathernecks. In six contests from Nov. 29 through Dec. 21, Farrow shot 65% from three-point range (17-of-26). On the year Farrow is shooting 46.5% from long distance.

KNOCKING EM DOWN FROM THE CHARITY STRIPE: The Leatherneck are 3-0 in their last three games and much of the success can be attributed to the team's performance at the free throw line. In the past three games, the team is shooting a combined 90% from the free throw line. Western Illinois was 9-of-10 against Eureka, went 19-of-20 to end nonconference against Milwaukee, and was 35-40 in the conference opener against Fort Wayne. Combined, the team is 63-of-70 during the stretch. 

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 (9.1), assists per game (17.1), assist to turnover ratio (1.18), steals per game (10.0), fewest fouls per game (16.2), fewest turnovers per game (14.5) and turnover margin (+2.21). Michelle Maher has the best assist to turnover ratio in The Summit League, averaging 2.13 assists for every turnover, while also ranking first in assists per game (4.7). Ashley Luke leads the league in field goal percentage (51.5) while Tori Niemann collects a league-leading 2.07 steals per game.

RECORD WATCH: Junior Michelle Maher is nearing a milestone, as she is six three-point field goals away from breaking the program record of three-point field goals made in a career. In just over two seasons, Maher has tallied 141 triples. Amanda Walker currently holds the record of 146, which set set during the 2006-2009 seasons.

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 32 career double-doubles are tied for the 10th most among active Division 1 players, while her career average of 8.9 rebounds per game ranks 14th on the active career leaders list. Luke has also averaged 15.9 points per game, the 17th best scoring average 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. This 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 38-15 when scoring at least 70 points. When scoring 69-or-fewer points, Western is 11-41 over the same timespan. The Leathernecks also know how to close out a late lead, as they are 41-5 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.

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. This season, Luke, Maher, and Niemann have each started every game for Western. 

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.