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Western Illinois University Athletics

Taylor Higginbotham
75
Winner Western Illinois WIU 11-3, 1-0 Summit
53
Fort Wayne FW 3-11, 0-1 Summit
Winner
Western Illinois WIU
11-3, 1-0 Summit
75
Final
53
Fort Wayne FW
3-11, 0-1 Summit
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Western Illinois WIU 23 14 20 18 75
Fort Wayne FW 9 19 13 12 53

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

Leathernecks Defeat Fort Wayne For First Summit League Win

Western Illinois earned its 11th win of the season at Fort Wayne.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Western Illinois women's basketball team picked up a 75-53 win at Fort Wayne to open Summit League play Wednesday (Dec. 28).

For the first time since the 2007-08 season, the Leathernecks have won six straight games. Taylor Higginbotham led the way with a game-high 23 points to go with four rebounds and four assists. She was one of five Leathernecks who scored in double figures.

"This game was a very solid way to start the conference season," said head coach JD Gravina. "In the second quarter, we got a little lackadaisical with the ball and on defense, but was proud of the way we bounced back in the second half and finished the game aggressively."

Western Illinois got off to fast start in first quarter. Within the first 30 seconds, Emily Clemens found Mallory Boyle for a quick basket. That play marked Clemens' 300th career assist and put Boyle over the 300-point mark in her career. Following a Morgan Blumer 3-pointer for her 200th point as a Leatherneck, the lead increased to 23-9 in favor of Western at the end of the opening quarter.

Fort Wayne brought the game back to single digits, but a layup by Higginbotham with 5:18 left in the second quarter put the Purple and Gold ahead by 10. The Leathernecks held on to a 37-28 lead at halftime.

The Mastodons cut their deficit to seven early on in the third, but the Leathernecks responded and increased their lead to 16 following another Blumer three. Western capped off the third quarter with a 7-0 run and a 57-41 lead.

The Leathernecks closed out the fourth with a 21-point win to improve to 1-0 in Summit League play and 11-3 overall. Of Higginbotham's 23 points, she scored 13 in the second half, which included her three field goals from beyond the arc. Emily Clemens followed with 14 points, five assists and four rebounds. Michelle Farrow tied her season high of 13 points for the second time, while Blumer (11) and Boyle (10) rounded out the double-digit scoring.

As a team, Western shot 49.2 percent (30-for-61) from the field and 50 percent (9-for-18) from beyond the arc.

Fort Wayne (3-11, 0-1) was led by De'Jour Young's 15 points and five rebounds. Anna Lappenkuper added 13, while Rachel Rinehart recorded 10 points, five assists and five steals.

The Leathernecks continue their Summit League road trip with a matchup at IUPUI this Saturday, Dec. 31 at 2:30 p.m. (CT).

TEAM NOTES:
-The Leathernecks are on a six-game winning streak for the first time since 2007-08…
-Still off to best start since 2005-06 season…
-JD Gravina picked up his 198th win as a head coach…
-Western Illinois had five score in double figures for the third time this season (last vs. Eastern Illinois on Dec. 10)…

PLAYER  NOTES:
-Emily Clemens surpassed the 300-assist mark in her career… she ranks ninth all time in the category at WIU… her streak of double-digit scoring continues to 14 this season… her ninth five-plus assist game this season and 24th of her career…
-Mallory Boyle eclipsed the 300-point mark in her career… she now has 309 points in her career… third double-digit scoring game this season (fifth of her career)…
-Morgan Blumer surpassed the 200-point mark this season and in her career as a Leatherneck (206 points this season)…
-Olivia Kaufmann tied her career-high of free throws made (two) for the fourth time…
-Michelle Farrow's 13 points ties her season-high for the second time… also tied season high of field goals made (five) for the second time… tied her season high of three 3-point field goals made for the third time…
-Taylor Higginbotham's 23 points was two shy of tying her career-high for the third time… one point shy of tying her season-high for the second time… tied her career-high of nine field goals made for the second time… second 20-plus point performance this season (seventh in her career)… fourth time this season as the scoring leader (her career 10th)…
   
 
 
 
 
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