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Western Illinois University Athletics

Taylor Higginbotham
49
Oral Roberts ORU 10-6, 2-1 SL
56
Winner Western Illinois WIU 12-5, 2-1 SL
Oral Roberts ORU
10-6, 2-1 SL
49
Final
56
Western Illinois WIU
12-5, 2-1 SL
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Oral Roberts ORU 11 9 20 9 49
Western Illinois WIU 14 12 20 10 56

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

Higginbotham, Braun Lead Leathernecks Past Oral Roberts

The duo combined for 35 points and 22 rebounds.

PHOTO GALLERY

MACOMB, Ill.— Behind the efforts of Taylor Higginbotham and Olivia Braun, Western Illinois was able to pick up its second Summit League win of the season with a 56-49 win over Oral Roberts Saturday afternoon (Jan. 6) inside Western Hall.
 
"It was a huge win for us after bouncing back from a loss," said head coach JD Gravina. "Oral Roberts is a good team, and they have one of the toughest non-conference schedules in our league. Being able to win a grind-it-out type of game is really important for us. I also thought our rebounding and our defensive efforts were tremendous."
 
Higginbotham recorded her sixth double-double of the season of 19 points and 14 rebounds, while Braun tallied a season-high of 16 points along with eight rebounds and four blocks. Western Illinois held a three-point lead after one quarter of play after closing out the first 10 minutes on a 9-2 run.
 
The Leathernecks held on to a 26-20 lead after Oral Roberts hit a jumper at the halftime buzzer to keep the game in single digits. After an even third quarter where both teams scored 20 points, the Purple and Gold began their surge at the start of the fourth.
 
An 8-0 run capped off by a layup by Emily Clemens gave the Leathernecks their largest lead of the day (54-40) with 5:20 to play, but the Golden Eagles refused to waiver, and put together a 9-0 run to cut Western's lead to five.
 
A pair of Higginbotham free throws and a Clemens steal sealed the game for Western, as they now look ahead to a weekend league contest at Omaha. Tipoff is scheduled for Jan. 13 at 1 p.m. in Omaha.
 
PROGRAM NOTES:
-Leathernecks improve to 2-1 in the league and 12-5 on the season….
-Western has now won three straight over the Golden Eagles, making the series 23-21 in favor of Oral Roberts…
-Head coach JD Gravina improves to 5-6 all-time against Oral Roberts…
-The last time Western defeated an opponent by scoring less than 60 points was Dec. 17, 2016 (54-50 win over Chicago State)…
 
PLAYER NOTES:
-Taylor Higginbotham recorded her sixth double-double of the season… 14 rebounds ties her career-high for the second time this season… 19 points marks her 60th career double-digit scoring game…
-Olivia Braun's 16 points mark her 15th career double-digit scoring performance… Sixteen points also marks a season-high and four blocks ties her season-high for the fourth time… Seven field goals made is also a season-high…
 
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