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MACOMB, Ill.- The Western Illinois women's basketball team begins the regular season Friday (Nov. 11) at 7 p.m. against Monmouth College inside Western Hall. The Leathernecks then hit the road for a non-conference matchup with Milwaukee on Sunday (Nov. 13) at 4 p.m.
A LOOK AT THE LEATHERNECKS:
Western Illinois returns three of its five starters from last season. The 2016-17 campaign marks the 113th season for the women's basketball program. Head coach JD Gravina enters his 12th overall season and a sixth season at the helm of the program, with a 187-141 (.570) lifetime record. At Western Illinois, he is 73-80 (.477).
Western Illinois is coming off its first NCAA Division I postseason victory in school history - the fourth postseason appearance in program history. WIU finished 16-16 last season with an 8-8 Summit League Record. The Leathernecks made it to the second round of the Women's Basketball Invitational Tournament (WBI), defeating Southern Illinois 99-97 in the first round, before falling to USC Upstate 81-77 in the Second Round.
This season, The Summit League preseason poll picked Western Illinois at sixth. Western Illinois has also played two exhibition games prior to the start of the regular season. In their last game, the Leathernecks defeated William Penn University 95-69. Western Illinois had players three score in double figures, including freshman Olivia Kaufmann (20), Taylor Higginbotham (18) and Taylor Hanneman (16). Jasmine Patrick was one basket shy of a double-double, with eight points and 10 rebounds in the contest.
SCOUTING THE FIGHTING SCOTS:
Monmouth has three returning players and nine newcomers this season. They are a member of NCAA Division III and officially open their season against Milliken University on November 15. Tia Robertson, a 5-foot-8 junior, leads the Fighting Scots as their returning scorer and rebounder, averaging 11.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Other returning players include Maddie Dohleman (4.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg) and Izy Todd (2.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg).
Monmouth is led by Kyle Wilson, who is the program's 11th head coach in their 42-year history.
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS:
The Milwaukee Panthers open their season at home against Western Illinois. Prior to that, Milwaukee played an exhibition game against Parkside, winning 85-63 on Nov. 7.
The Panthers return Steph Kostowicz, a 6-foot-2 junior forward who was named to the First Team All-Horizon League last season. She averaged 14.0 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game last season. They also return senior guard Sierra Ford-Washington, who registered 13.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per contest last season, and junior guard Jenny Linder, who averaged 13.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
Milwaukee is led by head coach Kyle Rechlicz, who is in his fifth season with the program, totaling a 46-75 overall record. Milwaukee finished 19-13 last season, which was second in the Horizon League.
SERIES HISTORY:
Western is 1-0 all-time against Monmouth College, winning 83-25 at home on Dec. 16, 2001. Against Milwaukee, the series is even at 5-5. In the most recent meeting, the Purple and Gold came away with a 79-59 at home on Dec. 30, 2014. Western has won the last two meetings against the Panthers.
PROMOTIONAL:
Fans can hear Danny Frey call all of the women's basketball regular season games throughout the area on the Leatherneck Sports Network.
All Western Illinois women's basketball regular season home games are scheduled to be streamed on Fighting Leatherneck All-Access, and select games are slated to air on WatchESPN/ESPN3.
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