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Gilmore Higgs
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Women's Basketball Set for Pair of Games in Indiana

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

The Leathernecks travel to face Purdue on Thursday, Nov. 15 and Butler on Saturday, Nov. 17.

MACOMB, Ill. — The Western Illinois women's basketball team hits the road for the first time this season to head to Indiana for a pair of matchups. The Leathernecks visit Big Ten opponent Purdue on Thursday, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. (CT) before heading to historic Hinkle Fieldhouse to play Butler of the Big East on Saturday, Nov. 17 with a 1 p.m. (CT) tip-off. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network. 
 
LAST TIME OUT: 
The Western Illinois (1-2) women's basketball team broke the program scoring and three-point field goals made record in a 136-39 win over MacMurray College on Monday night (Nov. 12).  
 
Elizabeth Lutz scored eight points in the span of 50 seconds on a fast break layup and two three-pointers as the Leathernecks started the game on a 13-0 run through the first three minutes. Taylor Higginbotham, Danni Nichols and Avery Hamm all buried triples in the final three minutes of the first quarter for a commanding 30-2 lead after one. 
 
Another freshman, Mackenzie Rogers started to feel it from behind the arc with two trifectas at the six-minute mark of the second quarter as Western was cruising 44-9. The Leathernecks led 68-10 at halftime, the most points at the half since they dropped 56 in the first half against Omaha on March 4, 2018 in the Summit League tournament. 
 
A trio of threes by Avery Hamm opened up the first two and a half minutes of the third quarter while Western Illinois controlled the game 77-14. With 3:51 remaining in the third quarter, Olivia Kaufmann connected an open look from deep to break the Leatherneck women's basketball program record for three-point field goals made in a game that was previously 19 against North Dakota State on Jan. 27, 2018. 
 
After the victory, JD Gravina passed Bea Yeager for second all-time in career wins at Western Illinois with 122. 
 
Lutz led seven scorers in double-digits with 23 points while dishing out four assists. Kaufmann was next with 21 points while pulling down seven rebounds and Annabel Graettinger poured in 20 points. Rogers broke out for 19 points and Avery Hamm sank four three-pointers for her 12 points. Danni Nichols and Taylor Higginbotham each scored 11 points to round out the double-digit scoring.
 
RECORD SHATTERED: 
Western Illinois made 28 three-point field goals as a team on Monday to break the NCAA Division I record previously held by Sacramento State (25) on Jan. 23, 2016 against Portland State.
 
SCOUTING THE BOILERMAKERS: 
Purdue finished the 2017-18 campaign at 20-14 overall after winning two games in the WNIT against IUPUI and Ball State. This year, the Boilermakers are off to a 2-0 start with an 80-38 win over Ball State and 66-65 nail-biter over Harvard. Junior forward Ae'rianna Harris is Purdue's main rebounder averaging 11 boards through two games while junior guard Dominique Oden provides the scoring threat averaging 16 points per game on the young season. 
 
Sharon Versyp is the program's all-time winningest coach with 259 victories at her alma mater over 12 seasons. The former Miss Basketball in Indiana was the head coach at Maine for five seasons followed by a brief one-year stop at Indiana before taking the reins of the Boilers during the 2006-07 campaign. 
 
PURDUE SERIES HISTORY: 
Purdue leads the all-time series 7-0 over Western Illinois. The Leathernecks and Boilermakers last met on Dec. 28, 2010, when Purdue won 76-44 inside Mackey Arena. Western hosted Purdue twice in 1981 and 1986. 
 
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS: 
Butler put together a 15-17 overall record last season and are off to a 2-0 start during the 2018-19 campaign. The pair of home wins came over Eastern Illinois (72-37) and Murray State (86-65). Senior center and 2017-18 All-Big East First Team selection, Tori Schickel is currently averaging a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds through the first two games. Iowa transfer Whitney Jennings is off to a hot start offensively, averaging 14 points a contest. Jennings played against Western Illinois on Nov. 19, 2015 and hit a game-tying triple to send the game to overtime as the Hawkeyes went on to win 96-81. Head Coach Kurt Godlevske is 47-79 entering his fifth season in charge of the Bulldogs.
 
BUTLERSERIES HISTORY: 
Butler leads the all-time series 2-1 over the Leathernecks. However, Western Illinois won the last meeting, 75-45 on Dec. 19, 2001 in Indianapolis. 
 
ON THE AIR: 
Fans can hear Ryan Kent call every game on the Leatherneck Sports Network. 

Flagship: 94.3 FM WRMS (Beardstown) Affiliates: 104.1 FM WMQZ (Macomb) | 106.7 FM WPWQ (Quincy).
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