WHAT'S UP? The Western Illinois Fighting Leathernecks open a three-game road trip Saturday (Feb. 6) evening in Fargo, North Dakota, for a matchup against the Bison of North Dakota State. The Leathernecks (14-8, 6-3) look to cap a regular season sweep of the Bison (9-12, 5-4), after knocking of North Dakota State, 88-66, 13 days prior in Macomb. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. inside the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.

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

SCOUTING NORTH DAKOTA STATE: The Bison currently sit at 14-8 overall, 5-4 in Summit League play, on the season. The squad is led by Brooke LeMar and Holly Johnson who average 19.2 and 10.4 points per game, respectively. Johnson (7.0) and Marena Whittle (7.2) handle the rebounding duties. LeMar has dished out a team best 93 assists this season. NDSU is led by Maren Walseth who is in her first season at the helm of the program. The Bison have played just one game since the road loss to Western Illinois on Jan. 24, a 82-52 on the road to South Dakota State last weekend. North Dakota State does a good job defending the three point line, the team's 29.4% three point field goal defense ranks first in the Summit League.

SERIES HISTORY: NDSU leads the all-time series 9-7 after the Leathernecks picked up a victory in the first meeting this season. Back on Jan. 24, Western Illinois picked up an 88-66 victory over the Bison inside Western Hall. Junior Sophie Reichelt had a career day, as she finished with 24 points, 18 rebounds, and five blocks. The 18 boards and five steals are career highs, while the 24 points rank as the second most in Reichelt's career. Fellow junior Ashley Luke also recorded a double-double, as she finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds. 

LAST TIME OUT: Junior Ashley Luke hit a pair of free throws with 2.2 seconds remaining to help lead the Leathernecks past Fort Wayne, 59-55, Saturday (Jan. 31) afternoon. The Leathernecks, who improved to 14-8 overall (6-3 Summit League) with the victory, collected their first regular season sweep of the Mastodons (8-14, 2-7) in program history. Luke (26 points, 10 rebounds) and junior Sophie Reichelt (12 points, 11 rebounds) each recorded double-doubles for Western, and in the process closed out a four-game home stand with three consecutive victories. With 28 seconds remaining in the game, and the score tied at 55-all, Luke was fouled as she went to the hoop. The Oak Creek, Wisconsin, native calmly knocked down a pair of free throws to give the Purple and Gold a two point lead. After the Mastodons called timeout with eight seconds remaining, Fort Wayne's Kamilah Carter drove into the lane to attempt the game-tying jumper. Luke stood in the way, blocked the shot, picked up her 10th rebound of the game, and was fouled by Fort Wayne with two seconds left. Luke hit the pair from the charity stripe to secure the Leathernecks' four-point victory.

Luke would finish the game a perfect 14-of-14 from the free throw line. The effort marks the second-best free throw showing in program history, with Luke's 17-of-17 performance against Southeast Missouri last season (12/7/13) being the only performance better. Western would finish the game 22-of-26 from the free throw line with 14 of its final 16 points coming from the charity stripe. The Mastodons held the lead going into halftime, as they ended the first 20 minutes of play on an 11-2 run to claim a 30-27 lead. The comeback effort from Western marks the second time this year that the Leathernecks have won after trailing at the intermission. Both comeback victories came against Fort Wayne, with the Purple and Gold erasing a 14-point second half deficit back on January 2 on the road. Luke's 26 points extended her streak of consecutive games in double-figures to 59 straight. She recorded her third consecutive double-double and 12th in the last 14 games (13 double-doubles overall this season). Reichelt collected her third double-double of the season and in her career.

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 59 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 21 times, 21-25 points 11 times, 25-30 points seven 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 70-straight games (as of Feb. 4) being the only known streak longer than Luke's.

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.

LONG BALL AMONG NATIONS BEST: Western Illinois has found success from beyond the arc this season, having made 180 field goals from three-point range. The Leathernecks' average of 8.2 made three-point field goals per game is among the best in Division I, as the team ranks 16th nationally. The team hit 14 triples in its victory over Denver, tied for the fifth most in a game in Leatherneck history.

LUKE NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT: It was announced on Feb. 5 that junior Ashley Luke was a CoSIDA Capital One Academic-All District selection. Luke is one of five nominees for the All-District team from District 5, which includes all Division I schools in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Luke and the four other selections will now be eligible for Academic All-American honors, in which Luke was a 2013-14 Third Team Academic All-American a season ago. 

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.

LEATHERNECKS SWEEP MASTODONS: On January 31, Western Illinois knocked off Fort Wayne by a 59-55 final. The victory completed the season-sweep for Western Illinois over the Mastodons, after picking up a 98-85 road win to open league play. The pair of wins gives Western Illinois its first-ever regular season sweep of Fort Wayne. 

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 67th nationally, with 4.6 assists per game. Maher also does a great job of not turning the ball over, as her 2.0 assist to turnover ratio also ranks second in the  league (53rd nationally).

FARROW HOT FROM DEEP: Redshirt freshman Michelle Farrow has been the team leader from beyond the arc this year, with a team-best 39 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 43.3% 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 85.1% 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.

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 39 career double-doubles are the 8th 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 scored 1,361 career points, the 11th most in Division I, and her 16.6 points per game ranks 14th most among active players.

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 42-17 when scoring at least 70 points. When scoring 69-or-fewer points, Western is 12-42 over the same timespan. The Leathernecks also know how to close out a late lead, as they are 45-5 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.