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Western Illinois University Athletics

Taylor Higginbotham
WIU Visual Productions Center
86
Truman State TSU 0-0
92
Winner Western Illinois WIUWW 0-0
Truman State TSU
0-0
86
Final
92
Western Illinois WIUWW
0-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Truman State TSU 18 27 20 21 86
Western Illinois WIUWW 26 34 10 22 92

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

Leathernecks Top Truman State in Exhibition Opener

Taylor Higginbotham notches a double-double in 92-86 exhibition win.

MACOMB, Ill.  — Led by the double-digit scoring quartet of Annabel Graettinger, Taylor Higginbotham, Grace Gilmore and Olivia Kaufmann, the Western Illinois women's basketball program was able to top Truman State, 92-86 in a home exhibition on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 28).
 
"That was exactly what we wanted out of an exhibition game," head coach JD Gravina said. "We scheduled Truman State because we knew they were physical, skilled and could shoot. There were a ton of positives and also a lot of things we identified that we need to improve on."
 
The Leathernecks built an early double-digit lead in the first quarter after a three-pointer by Avery Hamm and layup by Higginbotham for a 14-4 advantage with 7:35 left. Halfway through the first quarter, Truman State battled to cut the deficit to 17-16 but, Western Illinois ended the opening quarter on a 9-2 run for a 26-18 lead after one.
 
Western came out firing in the second quarter from outside as well as in the paint. Kaufmann and Graettinger cashed in on back-to-back layups at the 7:40 mark for a 42-22 lead. Higginbotham drained a triple off a dish from Graettinger to regain the 20-point advantage in the final two minutes of the first half. The Leathernecks led the Bulldogs at halftime, 60-45.  
 
Truman State started to pick away at the deficit and Sloane Totta connected on a three for a 67-63 score with 1:58 remaining in the third quarter. After three quarters, the Leathernecks were clinging onto a 70-65 lead.  
 
In the fourth with 4:53 left, Higginbotham drilled another trifecta to push the advantage back to double-digits at 81-71. Over the final minute, the Bulldogs made one final push on back-to-back three-pointers by Brook Bailey to make it a one-possession game, 89-86 with 33 seconds left in regulation. Graettinger iced the game by making three of four free throws as the Leathernecks held on for a 92-86 victory.
 
Graettinger led the way with 28 points and four rebounds to go with three assists, while Higginbotham recorded a double-double 21 points and 12 rebounds. Gilmore followed with 15 points, while Kaufmann scored 13 points and ripped down seven rebounds.
 
The Leathernecks now have one more exhibition game on Thursday, Nov. 1 at 5:30 p.m. against William Jewell inside Western Hall before the season and home opener (Nov. 6) against Missouri.
 
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