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Western Illinois University Athletics

Olivia Kaufmann
Larry Dean
72
Austin Peay APSU 4-4
77
Winner Western Illinois WIUWW 3-5
Austin Peay APSU
4-4
72
Final
77
Western Illinois WIUWW
3-5
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Austin Peay APSU 22 13 17 20 72
Western Illinois WIUWW 9 28 21 19 77

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Leathernecks Are Spectacular in Win over Austin Peay

The game was tied at 72-all in the final 40 seconds and Olivia Kaufmann crowned the game on a 5-0 run.

MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois women's basketball billed its final non-conference home game 'Spectacular Sunday,'  and its latest victory was certainly in spectacular fashion in a 77-72 decision over Austin Peay (Dec. 2). The matchup saw the Leathernecks overcome a 16-point deficit in the second quarter and a 72-all tie in the final minute.

Olivia Kaufmann broke the deadlock with an and-1 opportunity, and singlehandedly ended the game on a 5-0 run, which cemented her new career-high with 25 points. She finished the game 8-for-13 from the floor with three 3-pointers while adding eight rebounds, four assists, and four steals. 

In the decision, WIU improved to 3-5 overall with all three of its wins occurring inside Western Hall. 

"I showed a video before the game about finding the dog inside of you, and it took us a little bit, but I think we finally found that dog," said head coach JD Gravina. "Offensively, we are still a little out of sorts, but I thought we did a better job of trying to play with our head up, moving the ball a little more aggressively and we got to the free throw line and made them." 

Both sides struggled to find their offensive rhythm at the start of the game as the Governors held an early 9-4 edge at the first media timeout (4:08). Western was limited to one made field goal at the mark and added two more before the end of the frame to trail 22-9. 

The lopsided difference stunned fans in attendance but didn't last long as Western overcame the 16-point deficit just before the half. The shooting effort between the first and second quarters was night and day, and this time, it was Austin Peay who was limited from the floor. 

"It was hard to stay positive and not get frustrated. It was very difficult. It was like every little thing we did was wrong, and I thought some things sparked us. That was probably the loudest and most active that I've seen our bench which is really great because that's something we've talked about and worked on. I think our offensive rebounding sparked us a little bit and going into that press didn't really give them much trouble, but it was not letting them set up what they wanted to run as much."

With 2:10 to go before the half, Taylor Higginbotham and Grace Gilmore helped the Leathernecks to nine unanswered points. Higginbotham swished a layup to start the run and Gilmore banked the go-ahead basket with a 3-pointer. Western entered the break with a 37-35 advantage, pressuring the Governors to four made field goals in the 10-minute period. 

There were three times and four lead changes in the final quarter with the last stalemate sitting at 72-all with 40 seconds left.

Kaufmann fought her way to the basket for a layup and was fouled on the opportunity for an unconventional three-point play and Western's defense crowned the game as the Governors turned over the ball on their next possession and a missed a pair of 3-pointers on their final two.

Annabel Graettinger returned to action after a three-game hiatus and posted 15 points with six assists. Higginbotham recorded her first double-double of the season on 14 points and 12 rebounds while Gilmore added nine and 10, respectively. 

Western will have a short turnaround before its next game – an 11 a.m. tip at Bradley on Tuesday. 




 
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