MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois women's basketball team rings in the New Year, and the opening of Summit League play, on Friday, January 1, as the Leathernecks host Oral Roberts. WIU, fresh off its victory over Illinois State to close out nonconference play, enter league competition at 7-6 while the Golden Eagles sit at 3-9.Tip-off isset for 7 p.m. inside Western Hall.

BUCK NIGHT: Western Illinois' Summit League opener against Oral Roberts on Friday, January 1, is also Buck Night. All general admision tickets are only $1.

BROADCAST INFORMATION: 
Radio: 94.3 WRMS FM and 104.1 WMQZ FM (also available online at wrmsfm.com)
Video: Leatherneck All-Access
Live Stats: GoLeathernecks.com

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT: Oral Roberts heads to Macomb with a 3-9 record, but have faced tough competition during the course of the nonconference schedule. Of the 12 games the Golden Eagles have played, nine have been on the road, with four coming against 'Power Five' schools (Oklahoma State, Michigan, Baylor, and Kansas). Last time out, Oral Roberts knocked off Kansas in Lawrence, 70-63, behind a 25-point showing from Kaylan Mayberry. On the year, Bria Pitts (10.7 ppg) and Faith Ihim (10.4) lead the offensive attack, while Ihim bring in a team-best 6.1 boards per game. The Golden Eagles are led by Misti Cussen who is in her fourth season at the helm of the program.

SERIES HISTORY: Oral Roberts own the advantage in the all-time, 21-17. After returning to The Summit League following a two year hiatus, Oral Roberts swept the season series a season ago. Western Illinois last defeated Oral Roberts in the opening round of the 2012 Summit League Tournament, 83-71.

LAST TIME OUT: Emily Clemens and Mallory Boyle tallied career-highs and the Western Illinois women's basketball team led wire-to-wire in its final nonconference tune-up Monday (December 28) evening, defeating Illinois State, 79-64. The Purple and Gold, who close out the 2015 schedule with the in-state victory, move to 7-6 heading into Summit League play, while the Redbirds fall to 2-11 on the year. Four Leathernecks scored in double figures, led by Clemens' 22 points, topping her previous career-best of 13. The sophomore was 5-of-5 from beyond the arc, besting her previous career-high for 3-pointers in a game (2, set twice). Boyle also recorded a career-high as she added 15 points. The junior, whose previous career-high was 12, fell one rebound shy of a double-double with nine on the night. Sophie Reichelt and Michelle Maher each added 14 points. Reichelt added nine boards while Maher dished out five assists while registering zero turnovers.

THREES FOR DAYS: The Leathernecks are one of the most prolific 3-point shooting teams in the country, as the team ranks first nationally in 3-point field goals made (143), and ranks second nationally in 3-point field goals attempted (430), and per game (11.0). Five Leathernecks (Sophie Reichelt, Taylor Higginbotham, Michelle Maher, Taylor McClintock, and Michelle Farrow) have tallied at least 20 triples on the year.

SENIOR LEADERS: The Leathernecks are led by a pair of veteran seniors in Michelle Maher and Sophie Reichelt. Reichelt currently leads the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 14.2 and 7.3 rebounds per game while Maher, who has started 100-of-102 career games at Western, is third on the team in scoring (13.1). Maher also runs the offense, as her 60 assists are tops for the Leathernecks. The duo have combined to tally 355 points this year, a number which accounts for 34.5 percent of Western's scoring.

1,000-POINT CLUB: In Western Illinois' 78-74 victory over SIU-Edwardsville, senior Michelle Maher became the 15th 1,000-point scorer in program history when she connected on a 3-pointer with 5:08 remaining in the first quarter. Maher currently sits in 11th place on the all-time scoring list with 1,154 career points.

TAYLOR TIMES TWO: Freshman Taylor Higginbotham and sophomore Taylor McClintock, both newcomers to the WIU program this season, have felt right at home in the Leatherneck offense. In her first collegiate game, Higginbotham came off the bench and led all scorers with 25 points on 5-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc and 9-of-12 shooting from the field in a victory over Central Methodist. The freshman ranks second on the team in scoring (13.2 ppg) and has tallied 10 or more points in all but three game this year. After sitting out last year due to NCAA transfer rules, McClintock has been a key bench presence for the Purple and Gold, as she is fifth on the team, averaging 8.5 points per game. McClintock has hit the 10-point mark on seven occasions this year.

PROTECT THE ROCK, DISH THE ROCK: The Purple and Gold are one of the top teams nationally when it comes to handling the basketball. Western Illinois turns the ball over only 11.9 times per game, the seventh fewest in the country. The Leathernecks have also tallied 216 assists on the season (22nd-best nationally) to record a 1.39 assist to turnover ratio, 12th-best in DI. Michelle Maher's 3.33 assist to turnover ratio is tops in The Summit League and seventh nationally. Maher's backcourt teammate Emily Clemens is right behind Maher, as the sophomore's 2.05 assist to turnover ratio is second-best in the league.

MAHER EARNS PRESEASON RECOGNITION: Senior guard Michelle Maher earned preseason accolades leading up to the start of the season, as she was named Preseason Second Team All-Summit League. Maher, who is the all-time leader in made 3-point field goals, is also climbing the career assists list. The Park Ridge, Illinois, native currently ranks fourth all-time with 373 helpers.

IMPROVEMENT UNDER GRAVINA: In his first four years at the helm of the women's basketball program, head coach JD Gravina has been one of the most successful coaches in program history, as his 57 career wins in four seasons at Western are tied for the most of any coach over their first three seasons in charge. Now in his fifth season, Gravina sits in in third place for career wins with 63. Gravina's 2014-15 squad ended the season with a 10-4 mark inside Western Hall which ranked as tied for the second-most home victories since the 2004-05 team posted a perfect 12-0 mark at home.

LEATHERNECKS INK TWO: Head coach JD Gravina announced the signing of guards Sam Pryor and Andi Pierce on Thursday, November 12. Pryor and Pierce, who will both wrap up their prep careers this spring, will join the Leatherneck family in the fall of 2016. Pryor, a 6'0" guard, is a native of Elgin, Illinois. A member of Burlington Central High School, Pryor was an All-Conference selection as a junior and an All-Area honoree the past three seasons. As a sophomore, Pryor was named Second Team AP All-State, and Third Team IBCA All-State. As a junior, she repeated as a Second Team AP All-State selection, while also being named to the IBCA Second Team All-State team. Pierce, a 5'11" guard, is a native of Garber, Oklahoma. As a junior for Garber High School, Pierce averaged 23.4 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per contest for the Wolverines. Pierce shot 48 percent from the field and 40 percent from beyond the arc. Pierce also made a team-high 50 3-pointers, while also leading the team in steals and assists.

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.