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Western Illinois University Athletics

Emily Clemens
68
Winner IUPUI IUPUI 11-5 (2-1)
60
Western Illinois WIU 9-8 (2-2)
Winner
IUPUI IUPUI
11-5 (2-1)
68
Final
60
Western Illinois WIU
9-8 (2-2)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
IUPUI IUPUI 19 13 22 14 68
Western Illinois WIU 9 15 16 20 60

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

Leathernecks Fall to IUPUI in Summit League Action

Double-double from Sophie Reichelt not enough as Western moves to 2-2 in league play

MACOMB, Ill. – Sophie Reichelt tallied her second consecutive double-double, and Emily Clemens tallied double figure points for the fifth straight game, but the Leathernecks couldn't overcome a tough shooting night as the Purple and Gold fell to IUPUI, 68-60. Western Illinois (9-8, 2-2) tried to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter, outscoring IUPUI (11-5, 2-1) by six, but the Jaguars held on for the victory inside Western Hall.
 
"IUPUI gets you in ugly games. They really defend, they're physical, and they attack hard and make you play hard on the defensive end," said head coach JD Gravina. "Austin is a Purdue guy and they have that mentality. When they win it can turn into an ugly game, even when they lose they turn it into an ugly game. Last year I thought we did a good job in both of the games we won, we never got into a rhythm but we made enough plays and made things tough enough for them that we were able to win the games. Today we didn't get anything easy, it seemed like when we got layups around the basket we mishandled the ball or they didn't go in, and when we had open threes they didn't go in."
 
Clemens and Reichelt led the way for Western, as each tallied a team-best 12 points. Reichelt added 10 boards for her second double-double in as many games, while Clemens, who scored 10 of her 12 points in the first half, added three assists and three steals for the Leathernecks. The duo was joined by Taylor McClintock and Taylor Higginbotham in double figures, as each scored 10.
 
In the opening minutes of the game, Clemens carried Western, as she scored the team's first six points of the game. Michelle Maher then added a triple with 3:07 remaining in the first to even the score at 9-all. The Jaguars then ripped off 10 straight points, including a three to beat the buzzer, to take a 19-9 lead into the second quarter.
 
The Purple and Gold cut into the deficit, as the team used a 9-0 run midway through the second to trim IUPUI's lead to 1. McClintock, who reached double figures for the eighth time this season, started the run with a jumper. Clemens and McClintock tallied back-to-back layups in the paint to pull WIU with four, and Reichelt converted the old-fashioned 3-point play to get within a point of the Jags. But seven straight IUPUI points to end the half built the lead back up to eight as the teams headed to halftime.
 
IUPUI shot 53.3 percent (8-of-15) from the field in the third to extend their lead to 14 heading into the final quarter of play before Western began to chip away at the lead. On two separate occasions in the fourth quarter Western Illinois was able to get within eight of IUPUI, but free throws by the Jaguars stopped each run as Western was unable to come back to collect the victory.
 
As a team, the Leathernecks struggled from the floor, shooting 36.7 percent (22-of-60) from the field, and connected on only 5-of-20 3-point attempts. IUPUI, who entered Saturday's game shooting 31 percent from beyond the arc, caught fire against the Leathernecks, going 8-of-12 from deep (66.7%).
 
The Purple and Gold have the week off before playing host to Denver (4-13, 2-2) on Friday, January 15. Tip-off between the Leathernecks and Pioneers is set for 7 p.m.
  
 
 
 
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