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Western Illinois University Athletics

Sophie Reichelt
WIU Visual Productions Center
59
Bethune-Cookman BCUW 2-4
75
Winner Western Ill. WIU 4-3
Bethune-Cookman BCUW
2-4
59
Final
75
Western Ill. WIU
4-3
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Bethune-Cookman BCUW 15 16 15 13 59
Western Ill. WIU 20 24 16 15 75

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

Leathernecks Shoot Past Bethune-Cookman, 75-59

Strong first half propels Western to North Florida Classic Victory

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Leatherneck women's basketball team ended competition at the North Florida Classic Saturday (Nov. 28) afternoon with a 75-59 victory over Bethune-Cookman. Sophie Reichelt tallied a double-double to lead the way for the Purple and Gold, who ended tournament play 1-1 and improved to 4-3 overall.
 
Fresh off a career-high 34 points in the Leathernecks' first game of the tournament, Reichelt once again led the way offensively for WIU. Reichelt tallied a game-high 23 points and added 12 rebounds to tally her first double-double of the season. Over the two-game tournament, Reichelt combined for 57 points and 19 rebounds.
 
"What a really good effort today by the team," said head coach JD Gravina. "I think the first two possessions really set the tone defensively, and then coming down and hitting two threes is exactly how we wanted to start the game. Bethune-Cookman is a good rebounding team, and we outrebounded them, and that's including winning the turnover battle by six. That's really great for our team and shows so much about where our mental approach needs to be. I really like the way our players came back after losing yesterday"
 
Western Illinois cruised to the 16-point victory behind a strong first half in which the Leathernecks outscored the Wildcats, 44-31. WIU opened the game a pair of defensive stops and two quick triples from Michelle Maher and Michelle Farrow to force Bethune-Cookman to call a timeout 1:30 into the game. 3-pointers from Mallory Boyle and Emily Clemens ensued as the Leathernecks built a 14-4 lead midway through the first quarter as Western connected on four of its first six shots from beyond the arc.
 
WIU entered play Saturday as one the No. 1 team in the nation in 3-point field goals per game, draining 12.5 triples a contest. Western continued its hot shooting from beyond the arc against Bethune-Cookman, as seven different Leathernecks combined to make 14 triples. Reichelt led the way with a 4-of-5 performance from deep, while Farrow (3), Maher (2), Clemens (2), Boyle (1), Taylor McClintock (1), and Liz Skotowski (1) all contributed for the Leathernecks from long range.
 
After a first quarter which saw the Leathernecks lead by five. Western, who never trailed Saturday, opened up the lead for good in the second quarter, as WIU outscored Bethune-Cookman by eight. 10 points from Reichelt led the way for Western in the quarter.
 
The Leathernecks outscored the Wildcats by three over the final 20 minutes of play to pick up its fourth victory of the season. Western featured a balanced lineup Saturday, as all 11 Leathernecks played, with nine tallying points. Nine players played 10 or more minutes for Western, who doubled up Bethune-Cookman in assists, 16-8. Higginbotham continued her strong freshman campaign as she tallied 10 points and four rebounds.
 
Western returns to Illinois, but remains on the road for its next contest, traveling to face Eastern Illinois its next time out. Tip-off between the Leathernecks and Panthers is set for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 2. 
 
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