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Western Illinois University Athletics

Sophie Reichelt
WIU Visual Productions Center
80
Winner Western Illinois WIU 14-11, 7-5 SL
69
Denver DEN 4-21, 2-10 SL
Winner
Western Illinois WIU
14-11, 7-5 SL
80
Final
69
Denver DEN
4-21, 2-10 SL
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Western Illinois WIU 14 25 20 21 80
Denver DEN 12 22 19 16 69

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

Leathernecks Hold Off Pioneers, 80-69

Sophie Reichelt notches fourth double-double of the season in Western victory

DENVER, Colo. – Sophie Reichelt notched a double-double Wednesday (Feb. 10) evening, and the Western Illinois women's basketball held off a Denver rally to collect an 80-69 victory inside Magness Arena. Reichelt was one of four Leathernecks in double figures, as the Purple and Gold moved to 14-11 overall and 7-5 in Summit League play. Wednesday's victory over Denver (4-21, 2-10) also completed the season sweep for the Leathernecks, who have now won five straight contests over the Pioneers.
 
Reichelt ended the game with a team-high 20 points and game-high 15 rebounds to record her fourth double-double of the season and eighth in her career. Reichelt, who ranks fourth in program history in career blocks, was a force defensively Wednesday as she swatted away four shots.
 
"We did a great job on the boards, especially in the first half, and then got to the free throw line," said head coach JD Gravina. "I know a lot of those free throws are at the end of the game but we do that well. We lead the league in free throws attempted and made. Michelle (Maher) and Emily (Clemens) got to the free throw line really well, and Sophie (Reichelt) had really good game with 20 points and 15 rebounds."
 
Michelle Maher and Emily Clemens each hit double figures thanks largely to the free throw line. Maher finished with 18 total points while going 11-of-13 from the charity stripe and Clemens added 15 points thanks to 10-of-12 shooting from the free throw line. Each would tally two steals and Clemens would dish out five assists as well. As a team, Western finished 28-of-33 from the free throw line while limiting Denver to 10 total attempts (6-of-10). Freshman Taylor Higginbotham rounded out the Leathernecks in double figures, as she registered 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field.
 
Western Illinois survived a scare from the Pioneers, as the Leathernecks let a 13-point second half lead slip away. A 6-0 run by Western gave the Leathernecks a 50-37 lead midway through the third quarter and Western appeared to be in a position to pull away from Denver. Higginbotham recorded consecutive buckets before Maher got a layup to fall to lead the WIU run.
 
The Pioneers hung around, however, and with 3:49 remaining in the fourth quarter took a 63-62 lead. Denver's lead was short lived as Higginbotham gave Western the lead on the team's next possession and the Purple and Gold never looked back. Western would finish the game 13-of-14 from the free throw line to seal the 11-point victory.
 
Western, who led for nearly 30 minutes Wednesday, got off to a cold start to begin the game. The Pioneers opened the game to a 10-2 advantage, forcing a timeout by Gravina. WIU responded with a 12-2 run to end the first quarter with a 14-12 lead. Back-to-back triples from Reichelt and Michelle Farrow kicked the run into high gear and Reichelt would add a pair of jumpers to cap the run.
 
Western now has a week to rest before taking to the court again. The Leathernecks, in the middle of a four straight road games, head to Vermillion, South Dakota, their next time out. Tip-off on Thursday, February 18, against the Coyotes is set for 7 p.m.

 
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