MACOMB, Ill.- The Western Illinois women's basketball program plays host to the Omaha Mavericks this Saturday (Jan. 4) at 4:30 p.m. in the first game of a doubleheader with the men's team. The Leatherneck women are currently fourth in league standings.

THINK PINK PROMOTION:
The women's game marks the "Tradition of Tough Think Pink" promotion, which raises money for Linda's Fund at McDonough District Hospital. The men will host their "Ballin' for the Kids" event with Dance Marathon to help raise money for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

Free Chipotle will also be given to the first 200 students who come to the women's game at 4:30 p.m. To receive your free chicken or beef burrito, students can pick up a ticket by the inflatable Rocky at the beginning of the game. After the game is over, they can use that same ticket to pick up their free chicken or steak burrito, also by the inflatable Rocky. Students get in to all Western Illinois athletics events for free with your student ID.

LAST TIME AGAINST THE MAVERICKS:
Western Illinois overcame an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Omaha 78-74 on the road on Jan. 11.

The Leathernecks trailed by as many as 15 points in the game, but completed the comeback for their fourth Summit League win of the season. Emily Clemens led the way with 23 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals. She shot 7-of-14 (50 percent) from the field and 7-of-8 from the charity stripe. Morgan Blumer followed with 19 points and six rebounds, followed by Taylor Higginbotham (13 points) and Olivia Braun (11 points).

Omaha was led by Michaela Dapprich's team-high 20 points and Mikaela Shaw's double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds. Remy Davenport finished second on the team in scoring, with 19 points and five 3-pointers.

AROUND THE SUMMIT LEAGUE:
As a team, Western Illinois leads The Summit League in scoring offense (80.1 points per game), field goals made (655), 3-pointers made (208), free throws made (382), assists per game (18.0), steals per game (11.8) and blocks per game (4.6).

Emily Clemens ranks first in the league and ninth nationally with 153 assists this season. With 18.8 points per game, Clemens ranks second in The Summit League. Fellow teammate Morgan Blumer ranks fourth with 16.7 points per game. Clemens also leads The Summit League in assists per game (6.7) and steals per game (2.7). Olivia Braun leads the league with 2.8 blocks per game. She is 12th nationally with 64 total blocks thus far.

THOSE THIEVES!:
With a Summit League-leading 11.8 steals per game as a team, the Leathernecks have four players who rank in the league's top-four for steals per game. Clemens sits atop The Summit League standings (2.7 per game), followed by Mallory Boyle (2.3) in second. Taylor Higginbotham and Morgan Blumer are both tied for third in The Summit League with 1.9 steals per contest. Western Illinois is eighth nationally in total steals (271) and 13th nationally in steals per game (11.8).

SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS:
Omaha sits in sixth place in The Summit League standings with an 11-12 overall record and a 4-6 mark in conference action. The Mavericks have two players who average double-digits scoring in Mikaela Shaw (17.0)—who also ranks third amongst the league in points per game—and Michaela Dapprich, who averages 12.7 per contest. Shaw also ranks second in The Summit League with 8.0 rebounds per game.

Omaha is coached by Brittany Lange, who is in her fourth season with the program, totaling a 48-61 record.

SERIES HISTORY VS. OMAHA:
Including the most recent meeting, Western Illinois owns a 7-4 record over the Mavericks. Last meeting's win snapped a two-game skid. The Leathernecks have won five of the last seven and seven of the last 10.

CLEMENS ASSIST WATCH:
After reaching 359 career assists, including a four against Oral Roberts (Feb. 1), Emily Clemens now ranks sixth all-time in total career assists. The junior point guard is four shy of surpassing Kim Hurley (1978-81) for fifth all-time in career-assists.

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 Fighting Leatherneck All-Access, and select games are slated to air on
WatchESPN/ESPN3.
 
Flagship: 94.3 FM WRMS (Beardstown) Affiliates: 102.7 FM WJEQ (Macomb) | 106.7 FM WPWQ (Quincy) | 107.5 FM KWBZ (Quincy).

 

 Tweet #W1U