MACOMB, Ill. – The Fighting Leatherneck women's basketball program (5-3) takes the court for its first of three home games this Monday (Dec. 5) against Bradley. Following Monday's contest Western Illinois plays host to Graceland on Wednesday (Dec. 7) and Eastern Illinois on Saturday (Dec. 10).

A LOOK AT YOUR LEATHERNECKS:
Western Illinois is coming off of a 77-61 loss at Marquette to close out its fourth straight road contest. The Leathernecks have played six of their last seven games on the road, and play host to three opponents this week.
 
As of Sunday (Dec. 4) the Leathernecks rank fifth nationally in three point field goals made this season (79) and seventh in three point field goals made per game (9.9). The Leathernecks also rank fifth in the nation in total steals with 107.
 
Junior point guard Emily Clemens is still in the top-10 in total assists, ranking sixth with 52 on the season. She averages a team-high 19.6 points and team-best 6.5 assists per game. Morgan Blumer averages 15.6 points and a team-high 6.3 rebounds per game, followed by Taylor Higginbotham, who averages 12.6 points and 5.6 assists through eight contests.
 
SCOUTING BRADLEY:
The Braves sits at 2-5 overall, most recently falling to Northern Illinois 81-51 on Dec 2. Northern Illinois is also the only common opponent between the Leathernecks and Bradley, as WIU defeated the Huskies 83-79 on Nov. 19 at home.
 
Bradley has two players who average double-digit scoring in Anneke Schlueter (11.7) and Vanessa Markert (11.6). Leti Lerma is close to averaging a double-double on the season, with 9.1 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.
 
Head coach Andrea Gorski is in her first season with the Braves.
 
WIU-BRADLEY CONNECTIONS:
Western Illinois junior guard Emily Clemens and Bradley senior forward Leti Lerma are both natives of Muscatine, Iowa and attended Muscatine High School.
 
SCOUTING GRACELAND:  
Graceland is 1-8 overall as a member of the NAIA. The Yellow Jackets have played fellow Summit League member Omaha as its only game against a Division I opponent thus far, falling 109-59.
 
Tristen McFeders leads Graceland in points (16.7) assists (3.1), steals (3.2) and blocks (0.6) per contest. Graceland is led by head coach Frank Howell, who is in his first season with the program.
 
SERIES HISTORY:
Western Illinois trails the all-time series 24-13 against Bradley. The Leathernecks have won the last three meetings. The most recent matchup was Dec. 9, 2014, where WIU won 75-63 on the road.
 
This will be the first meeting between Western Illinois and Graceland University.
 
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 video streamed on either Fighting Leatherneck All-Access or WatchESPN/ESPN3.
 
Flagship: 94.3 FM WRMS (Beardstown) Affiliates: 102.7 FM WJEQ (Macomb) | 106.7 FM WPWQ (Quincy) | 107.5 FM KWBZ (Quincy).
 

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