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Western Illinois University Athletics

Blumer
87
Winner Western Illinois WIU 19-6, 9-3
60
North Dakota State NDSUWBB 5-19, 3-8
Winner
Western Illinois WIU
19-6, 9-3
87
Final
60
North Dakota State NDSUWBB
5-19, 3-8
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Western Illinois WIU 25 9 24 29 87
North Dakota State NDSUWBB 25 7 13 15 60

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

Women's Basketball defeats North Dakota State On The Road

Western Illinois had four players score in double figures.

JD GRAVINA POSTGAME INTERVIEW

FARGO, N.D.  – The Western Illinois women's basketball team picked up its fourth straight regular season victory with an 87-60 road win at North Dakota State (Feb. 8).

The win improves the Leathernecks to 19-6 overall and 9-3 in league play. The Bison fall to 5-19 overall with a 3-8 mark in Summit League action.
Morgan Blumer—the current Summit League Female Athlete of the Month for January—recorded her fourth-career double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds.

"We played probably three of the best defensive quarters we've played all year," said head coach JD Gravina. "We really put together a good defensive second half and the offense was clicking. To play the pace we play at and only have five turnovers says so much about our kids."

Western Illinois and North Dakota State were tied at 25-25 after one quarter of play. Early in the second quarter, Jasmine Patrick drew a charge that gave the

Leathernecks a possession to take the lead. After a quick bucket, the Bison responded with a 3-pointer with under six minutes to go in half, leading 28-27.

With 3:36 to go in the second, Taylor Higginbotham went coast-to-coast for a quick transition basket as Western regained a 29-28 lead.

Both teams continued to exchange baskets for the lead, but an Olivia Braun corner three put the Leathernecks ahead 34-32 at the half.

Western Illinois opened the second half with a 7-0 spurt to lead 39-32. A pair of threes from Morgan Blumer and Olivia Braun gave Western a 12-point cushion with 4:51 to go in the quarter. The Leathernecks capped off the third quarter with an and-1 by Higginbotham, which gave the Purple and Gold a 58-45 lead entering the fourth.

The Leathernecks forced another Bison timeout in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, after a steal and fast-break layup by Farrow which put the Leathernecks ahead 64-49.

"Once we put the pedal to the metal in the second half, it was tough for them. This is a dangerous place to play at and we're happy to come away with a road win," said Gravina.

With 6:36 remaining on the clock, Mallory Boyle caught the ball in the high post and dished it to Clemens for a 3-pointer to go up 67-49. Blumer collected her double-double off an offensive board with under three minutes to go and followed it up with a three. Western Illinois eventually closed out the game with 13 made field goals from beyond the arc for the 27-point win.

Along with Blumer, three other Western Illinois players finished with double figures. Clemens recorded 19 points and eight assists. Olivia Braun tallied 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and three blocks, while Taylor Higginbotham totaled 12 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals.

North Dakota State was led by Taylor Thunstedt's 14 points and four 3-pointers.

The Leathernecks have a quick turnaround, as they travel to take on Denver this Saturday, Feb. 11 for a 2 p.m. (CT) tipoff. 

PROGRAM NOTES:
-The last time WIU won 19 or more games was in 2005-06 (23-7 record)… the last 19-win season was in 2004-05 (19-9)…
-Nine Summit League wins surpasses last season's win total… the most since 2014-15 (9-7 Summit League record)…
-Head coach JD Gravina picked up his 92nd career win at Western Illinois…
-The last time Western made 10 or more 3-pointers was on Jan. 28 at South Dakota (made 12)…
-Five turnovers marks the fewest since the previous meeting against North Dakota State (Jan. 14), where the Leathernecks only committed four (program record)…

PLAYER  NOTES:
-Emily Clemens is now fourth all-time in program history for career assists with 375… eight assists also marks her 16th five-plus assist game this season (career 31st)… 19 points marks her 23rd double-digit scoring game of the season (career 38th)…
-OIivia Braun's 17 points marks her fifth career double-digit scoring game of the season and her career… three 3-point field goals made is a new career high…
-Mallory Boyle set a new season high of one block…
-Morgan Blumer's 20 points and 11 rebounds marks her fourth-career double-double… also marks her 22nd career double-digit scoring game… fifth career 20-plus point game… surpassed the 400-point mark in her career… sixth career game as the scoring leader… 13th career game as the rebounds leader…
-Olivia Kaufmann recorded her first-career block…
-Taylor Higginbotham's 12 points marks her 17th double-digit scoring game of the season (career 38th)…
 
 

 
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