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Western Illinois University Athletics

Graettinger Mizzou
WIU Visual Productions Center
89
Winner Missouri MU-W 1-0
64
Western Illinois WIUWW 0-1
Winner
Missouri MU-W
1-0
89
Final
64
Western Illinois WIUWW
0-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Missouri MU-W 18 17 26 28 89
Western Illinois WIUWW 8 19 17 20 64

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

#16 Missouri Pulls Away from Western Illinois in Season Opener

The Leathernecks trailed by single digits at half but dropped a 89-64 decision in historic home game.

MACOMB, Ill.— The Western Illinois women's basketball team battled but fell 89-64 in the season opener against 16th ranked Missouri on Tuesday night (Nov. 6).
 
"We only gave up five offensive rebounds in the first half and that is extremely encouraging for us," head coach JD Gravina said. "If we can neutralize teams on the boards that can really help us. Missouri is physical and can get to the basket. I thought we had a lot of good takes, but everything is harder. A layup is harder, a wide open three is harder and we didn't finish as many as we probably needed to."

Annabel Graettinger flew to the basket for a layup to tie the game 5-5 before Missouri went on a 7-0 run into the first media timeout and led the Leathernecks 18-8 after the first quarter.  
 
Taylor Higginbotham nailed back-to-back triples to open up the second quarter and cut the deficit to 18-14 with 8:39 left in the second quarter. Graettinger drilled a three-pointer on the next possession to make it a one-point game. Missouri kept firing from deep as Lauren Aldridge connected on a three for a 28-21 lead with 4:35 to go in the first half. A minute later, Olivia Kaufmann had a teardrop fall as the Leathernecks trailed 30-25. Missouri closed out the first half with a 35-27 lead.
 
After a layup by Kaufmann with 7:41 remaining in the third quarter, Western Illinois was trailing 39-30 before Aldridge knocked down a trifecta from the top of the key at the halfway point of the quarter for a 48-35 margin. Kaufmann converted a three-point play the old fashioned way with 1:45 to go in the third as the Leathernecks trailed 57-42 and they were behind 61-44 after three quarters of play.
 
Missouri built a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter on a mid-range jumper by Akira Levy and with 7:39 left, Grace Gilmore answered on a triple to trim the deficit under 20 at 68-51. The Tigers began to coast and All-SEC First Teamer Sophie Cunningham eclipsed 30 points on the night after hitting a layup while being fouled at the four-minute mark for an 83-59 advantage. Western fought till the end but came up on the short end of an 89-64 final score.
 
Graettinger and Kaufmann both scored 18 points while Graettinger led the team with six rebounds. Gilmore scored 11 points and ripped down five rebounds as Higginbotham rounded out the double-digit scoring with 10 points.

The Leathernecks continue the early homestand on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 4:30 p.m. against Drake.

PROGRAM NOTES:
- The attendance of 1,227 ranks seventh in program history...
- The game marked the first time in program history since Dec. 11, 1997, that a Power Five team played in Western Hall and Western Illinois won that game 68-66 (OT)...
- The Leathernecks are 4-4 in season openers under JD Gravina...

PLAYER NOTES:
- Olivia Kaufmann's 18 points are the second most in her career and six made field goals is also second in her career...
- Grace Gilmore set a new career-high in made free throws with six...
- Payton Courier, Annabel Graettinger, Jinda Guidinger, Avery Hamm, Elizabeth Lutz, Danni Nichols and Mackenzie Rogers all made their Leatherneck debuts...
- Annabel Graettinger was 9-10 from the free throw line...
 
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