MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois women's basketball team heads to the Dakotas this weekend, as the Leathernecks prepare to take on North Dakota State (5-14, 0-6) and South Dakota State (14-4, 4-1) in Summit League action. Western (10-8, 3-2), winners its last time out, will face the Bison at 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 21, before a 2 p.m. contest against the Jackrabbits on Saturday, January 23.

BROADCAST INFORMATION:
at North Dakota State    
Radio: 94.3 WRMS FM and 104.1 WMQZ FM   
(also available online at wrmsfm.com)    
Video: NDSU All-Access    
Live Stats: GoBison.com

at South Dakota State
 Radio: 92.5 WKXQ FM
(also available online at wkxqfm.com)
Video: Jackrabbit Extra
 Live Stats: GoJacks.com

SERIES HISTORIES: Western Illinois trails the all-time series, 9-8, to North Dakota State, but have won three-straight in the series, including a season sweep of the Bison a year ago. Western will be looking for its second win all-time against SDSU, as the Jackrabbits own a 16-1 advantage in the all-time series. Western Illinois claimed the first meeting all-time between the two schools prior to SDSU winning 16 in a row.

THREES FOR DAYS: The Leathernecks are one of the most prolific 3-point shooting teams in the country, as the team ranks fifth nationally in 3-point field goals made (174)and 3-point field goals attempted (551), and sixth in threes per game (9.7). Five Leathernecks (Sophie Reichelt, Taylor Higginbotham, Michelle Maher, Taylor McClintock, and Michelle Farrow) have tallied at least 20 triples on the year, led by Maher's 30.

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 14.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per game while Maher, who has started 105-of-107 career games at Western, averages 13.5 points per game this season. Maher also runs the offense, as her 76 assists are tops for the Leathernecks. 

THE RISE OF CLEMENS: Sophomore Emily Clemens has taken the next step as a leader of the Leatherneck program. As a freshman a season ago, Clemens came off the bench and scored 5 points a game while averaging 2.4 assists a contest. This year, Clemens has started every game, seeing her minutes per game rise by over 10 a game. On the court, Clemens has upped her scoring average to 10.1, assist average to 3.5, and has surpassed her steal total from a season ago (31) with 42 this year. Clemens has scored 10 or more points in six straight contests.

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 9th place on the all-time scoring list with 1,227 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 third on the team in scoring (13.3 ppg) and has tallied 10 or more points in 12 games 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 7.4 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 12.0 times per game, the ninth fewest in the country. The Leathernecks tally 15.3 assists per game, 61st nationally, to record a 1.27 assist to turnover ratio, 11th-best in DI. Michelle Maher's 2.30 assist to turnover ratio is tops in The Summit League and 28th nationally. Maher's backcourt teammate Emily Clemens is right behind Maher, as the sophomore's 1.85 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 third all-time with 389 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 67. 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.