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Western Illinois University Athletics

Grace Gilmore
Larry Dean
73
William Woods WW 5-2
81
Winner Western Illinois WIUWW 2-5
William Woods WW
5-2
73
Final
81
Western Illinois WIUWW
2-5
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
William Woods WW 19 16 21 17 73
Western Illinois WIUWW 26 23 14 18 81

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Western Lights It Up From Downtown in Tuesday Night Win

The Leathernecks swished 14 three-pointers, the second most this season, in an 81-73 win over William Woods.

MACOMB, Ill. – Historically, Western Illinois women's basketball is a really good three-point shooting team. The Leathernecks' first home win of the season set an NCAA Division I record for the most made treys in a single game (28) and on Tuesday (Nov. 27), the team played host to William Woods where it posted 14 in an 81-73 victory. 

The tally finished one shy of cracking the top 10 in program history as all but one Leatherneck ended the game with a three-point field goal. 

Western's first nine points of the game came from the long ball as Taylor Higginbotham, Grace Gilmore and Avery Hamm swished their team into a 9-8 edge (6:14). The teams combined for 19 three-pointers by the break – the Owls were just as effective in their shot selection, adding eight of their own – but it was Western who entered the locker room up, 45-39. 

Coming out of the half, the Owls pulled back within single digits and hung around through the final whistle.

The visitors closed the deficit to one possession, 57-54, at the 3:21 mark of the third quarter but were unable to turn the corner as the Leathernecks embarked on an 8-2 run that stretched through the early goings of the fourth frame. 

"We shot it well in the first half for sure, but still when things get tight we need shots, and that's tough to depend on. We've got to be able to do some other things besides shoot. We've got to be physically tougher, stronger and I've got to keep reminding myself that we've got a young team. A lot of our kids have some good potential," said head coach JD Gravina.

The scoreboard read 69-66 at the final media timeout before a turnover switched the game's momentum for the last time. The Owls finished the game with 29 and a miscue with 4:27 remaining opened the door for Jinda Guidinger to bank a three. 

The basket ignited the Leathernecks on a 7-0 run to pull away for good. 

Both teams finished the game with 29 made field goals and 14 three-pointers, but Western took advantage of the free throw line for eight extra points. 

Six Leathernecks finished in double-figures, led by Gilmore's career-high 17 points and eight rebounds. Olivia Kaufmann added 14 points while Higginbotham chipped in with 12 and each recorded four steals and four assists.

The Leathernecks (2-5) return to Western Hall Sunday, Dec. 2, as they play host to Austin Peay in a 4:30 p.m. tip. 
 
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