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Western Illinois University Athletics

WBB_Eureka_FP
WIU Visual Productions Center
46
Central Methodist CMU 2-0
108
Winner Western Illinois WIU 1-0
Central Methodist CMU
2-0
46
Final
108
Western Illinois WIU
1-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Central Methodist CMU 14 7 12 13 46
Western Illinois WIU 23 26 29 30 108

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

Leathernecks Shoot Past Central Methodist, 108-46, to Open Regular Season

True freshman Taylor Higginbotham's 25 points off the bench pace Western past century mark

MACOMB, Ill. – Freshman Taylor Higginbotham scored 25 points off the bench in her first regular season collegiate game Friday (Nov. 13) night as the Leathernecks cruised past NAIA Central Methodist, 108-46. Western matched a program record with 17 made 3-pointers en route to the 62-point victory. Western starts off the season 1-0, while Central Methodist, who played the game as an exhibition, remains at 2-1.
 
"Obviously that's a good win against what is going to be a good NAIA team," said head coach JD Gravina. "I do think they will be nationally ranked before the season is over, and they have a heck of a player in DaJonee Hale. She will have a chance to be an All-American. They were playing a lot of players because they have six games in 12 days, so the score got a little out of hand. But the thing I was most excited about was our defensive intensity. It was consistent and I can probably count three possessions where I wasn't happy with our defensive intensity, and in a game like that, that's tough to do. I'm kind of hoping that's what we are known for this year and that can kind of lead to some offense."
 
Higginbotham, a native of Germantown, Wisconsin, led all scorers Friday evening in her first regular season appearance in the Purple and Gold. She ended the night 9-of-12 from the field and 5-of-6 from beyond the arc. The freshman also added three assists and four steals in 22 minutes off the bench.
 
"Proud of Taylor (Higginbotham). Being a freshman is tough and she had been killing it in practice. The exhibition games started and it was reality for a freshman and it's shocking that she got going as quickly as she did. But that's what we have seen consistently out of her in practice. She's going to be a heck of player this year and four years down the road," added Gravina.
 
As a team, the Leathernecks' 17 made 3-pointers against the Eagles matches the program record for triples in a single game (17 – vs. Culver-Stockton, 1/2/14). WIU shot 41.5 percent from beyond the arc while limiting Central Methodist to 25 percent (4-of-16).
 
Michelle Maher, a Preseason Second Team All-Summit League selection, recorded her second career double-double, finishing with 11 points and a game-high 11 assists. The 11 helpers fall three shy of her career record of 14. The senior native of Park Ridge, Illinois, did a great job holding directing the offense, as she committed only one turnover.
 
Sophomore Michelle Farrow netted a career-high 19 points as she finished 5-of-11 from beyond the arc. Sophie Reichelt fell a rebound shy of a double-double as she recorded 12 points and nine rebounds. Two other Leathernecks, Jasmine Patrick and Taylor McClintock, ended the game in double figures, as each contributed 10 points off the bench. Patrick shared the team lead in rebounds, bringing down nine boards.
 
As a team, the Purple and Gold assisted on 31 of their 38 made field goals. The defense clamped down on the Eagles, forcing 32 turnovers while collecting 22 steals.
 
Central Methodist led briefly in Friday's contest, as Hale netted the first two points of the game. The lead didn't last long, as Farrow drilled a triple eight seconds later. Western would outscore the Eagles, 24-13, in the opening quarter before dominating the second quarter, 26-7. Western continued to build on its lead Friday, as all 10 Leathernecks who checked in scored against Central Methodist.
 
Western returns to action Sunday, November 15, as the Leathernecks host SIU-Edwardsville in Western Hall. Tip-off is slated for 2:30 p.m. as part of a doubleheader with the WIU men's basketball team.
 
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