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Western Illinois University Athletics

Blumer FP
81
North Dakota State NDSUWBB 5-13, 3-2
110
Winner Western Illinois WIU 15-4, 5-1
North Dakota State NDSUWBB
5-13, 3-2
81
Final
110
Western Illinois WIU
15-4, 5-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
North Dakota State NDSUWBB 20 20 22 19 81
Western Illinois WIU 32 28 23 27 110

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

Blumer's Career Performance Surges Western Illinois Past North Dakota State

Morgan Blumer recorded a career-high 36 points and 15 rebounds.

PHOTO GALLERY     HIGHLIGHTS

MACOMB, Ill. - Junior Morgan Blumer had quite a day as the Western Illinois women's basketball team defeated North Dakota State 110-81 Saturday (Jan. 14) to improve to 15-4 overall and 5-1 in Summit League play.

The junior guard set career-highs in points (36), rebounds (15), field goals made (12) and 3-point field goals made (seven). Her seven 3s tie a single game-record for made 3-pointers, joining: Michelle Maher (2014, two times), Saule Kontautiate (2013), Vicki Adelman (1995) and Lori Schrock (1988). Her 36 points tied her for third in program history for most points in a single game.

Taylor Higginbotham also tied her career-high of 28 points for the second time this season and set a new career-high in steals (five). She also recorded six assists and no turnovers. Emily Clemens was the third Leatherneck to eclipse the 20-point mark, as she finished with 24 points and six assists.

As a team, Western Illinois set a new program record for the fewest turnovers in a single game with four.

"I'm very proud of the way our team played together tonight," said head coach JD Gravina. "Our transition game was really putting a lot of pressure on their defense. Morgan [Blumer], Taylor [Higginbotham] and Emily all really played well and filled out the stat line with more than just points."

The Leathernecks fell into a 5-4 deficit early on, but a turnaround jumper and 3-pointer by Higginbotham made it 9-7 early in the first. From there, Western Illinois never relinquished the lead.

With 1:02 remaining in the first quarter, Western swung the ball around the perimeter to find an open Blumer for three. That play gave Western a 29-20 lead and forced a Bison timeout. The lead increased to 32-20 after one quarter of play.

At the 7:52 mark in the second quarter, Blumer knocked down her fourth shot from beyond the arc. That was followed with back-to-back threes from the Milton, Wis. native, giving her a then career-high six 3-pointers and 25 points with 6:15 still to go in the second.

The lead increased to 56-28 after an and-1 by Clemens with 2:46 to go until halftime. Western ended up with a 20-point cushion (60-40) at the half. Blumer and Higginbotham had 27 and 18 points after two quarters, respectively.

Western opened the third with a three-point play by Mallory Boyle, who drove in the lane and was fouled as the ball went in. A quick defensive stop followed by Blumer's record-tying seventh 3-pointer made it a 68-44 game with 6:39 to go in the third.

The play of the game came from Blumer, who swatted a Bison 3-point attempt, caught the ball and went full-court for a fast-break layup. That play resulted in a new career-high of 32 points.

Entering the fourth quarter, the Purple and Gold maintained an 83-62 lead over North Dakota State.

A 3-pointer and a pair of free throws by Higginbotham tied her career-high of 28 points with 4:30 to go, as Western eclipsed the 100-point mark with score of 102-77. From there, the Leathernecks cruised to the 110-81 win for their 15th win of the season.

North Dakota State (5-13, 3-2) had four in double figures for scoring. Sarah Jacobson paced the Bison with 18 points and eight assists, followed by Rylee Nudell (15 points), Taylor Thunstedt (13 points) and Anna Goodhope (11 points).

Western Illinois has a week off before hitting the road at The Summit League preseason favorite South Dakota State Saturday (Jan.21). Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. (CT).

PROGRAM NOTES:
- Four turnovers marks the fewest in program history for a single game…
- 5-1 Summit League record is the best start since 2007-08 (6-0 start)… 15-4 record ties the 2005-06 team for best start in program history through 19 games…
- 15 made 3-pointers is tied for fifth in program history for a single game… (15 vs. Clarke on Nov. 15, 2012) (15 vs. Oakland on Feb. 4, 2012)…
- Fourth time this season WIU has surpassed the 100-point mark…
- First time this season with three players who scored 20-plus points in one game (Blumer-36, Higginbotham-28 and Clemens-24)…
- 9-0 home record… three home wins shy of tying the most home wins for a single season (12: 2002-03, 2004-05)…
- 12-0 when leading at halftime…
- 6-0 when scoring 80-plus, 2-0 when scoring 90-plus and 4-0 when scoring 100-plus points this season…
- Sixth game this season of recording 20-plus assists…

PLAYER NOTES:
- Emily Clemens' 24 points marks her 11th 20-plus point game this season (career 14th)… also marks her 18th double-digit scoring game this season (career 33rd)… six assists marks her 13th five-plus assist game this season (career 28th)… only two assists shy of tying Carol Anderson (1982-85) for seventh all-time in career assists…
- Morgan Blumer set career-highs in points (36), rebounds (15), field goals made (12) and 3-pointers made (seven)… seven made threes ties her with four past Leathernecks for most in a single game… 36 points ties her for third-most for a single game in program history… also tied her career-highs in free throws made (five/fourth time) and blocks (three/twice)… fifth time this season and in her career as the scoring leader… third career double-double… fourth career 20-plus point performance… second career 30-plus point performance… 11th time in this season and in her career to lead her team in rebounds… 17th career double-digit scoring game…
- Taylor Hanneman's two assists ties her season-high for the third time…
- Andi Pierce's one steal ties her career-high for the second time…
- Taylor Higginbotham tied her career-high of 28 points for the second time this season… set new career-highs in field goals made (12), steals (five)… also set new season-highs in 3-point field goals made (four) and assists (six)… fourth 20-plus point performance this season (career ninth)… 13th double-digit scoring game this season (career 34th)… third five-plus assists game this season (career fourth)…
 
   
 
 
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