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Western Illinois University Athletics

Kaufmann
WIU Visual Productions Center
78
FURMAN FUR 7-5
85
Winner WESTERN ILLINOIS WIU 4-9
FURMAN FUR
7-5
78
Final
85
WESTERN ILLINOIS WIU
4-9
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
FURMAN FUR 13 20 29 16 78
WESTERN ILLINOIS WIU 15 28 22 20 85

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

Leathernecks Fend Off Furman to Wrap Up Las Vegas Holiday Classic Appearance

Olivia Kaufmann and Avery Hamm both recorded career-highs in points while Taylor Higginbotham moved to second on the all-time scoring list.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Behind career games from Olivia Kaufmann and Avery Hamm, the Western Illinois women's basketball team (4-9) earned their first win away from Western Hall this season, 85-78 over Furman (7-5) in the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic on Friday (Dec. 21).
 
"Our offense is coming around," head coach JD Gravina said. "When we use both sides of the floor, it's hard for teams to chase us around. Furman is way bigger than us but had a hard time guarding us in space."
 
Taylor Higginbotham broke the early 4-4 tie with a three-pointer from the left wing at the halfway point of the first quarter. Olivia Kaufmann put back a miss from Grace Gilmore in the waning seconds of the opening frame for a 15-13 lead.
 
Three minutes into the second quarter, Higginbotham buried a triple to break another even score for a 24-21 advantage. Avery Hamm provided a spark off the bench by connecting on three consecutive treys to push the margin to 39-29 with 1:25 remaining in the first half. The Leathernecks entered the break with a 43-33 lead.
 
Higginbotham passed Zane Teilane for second on the Western Illinois program all-time scoring list after a layup for a 55-43 lead with 5:38 to go in the third quarter. The Germantown, Wis., native currently has 1,551 career points. Furman used an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to four points over the next minute and a half. The Purple and Gold clung onto a 65-62 edge after three quarters.
 
The Paladins snagged the lead with 4:11 remaining in regulation on a layup by Kaitlyn Duncan. Western fought back to tie the game 73-73 on a Kaufmann layup and Elizabeth Lutz immediately stole the ball for another lay-in as the Leathernecks went ahead, 75-73 with 2:45 left.
 
A late three-ball from Hamm broke a 75-all tie and from there, Western Illinois did not relinquish the lead. Annabel Graettinger scored a hard-earned basket and Kaufmann made three more free throws to finish 13-14 from the charity stripe while completing the victory.
 
"It's a big confidence boost to know that we can play at this level and win," Gravina said. "It makes the holiday break a little nicer and makes the last night in Vegas a little more enjoyable."
 
Kaufmann finished with a career-high 26 points while ripping down eight rebounds with four assists and five steals. Higginbotham notched her 15th career double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Hamm connected on over half of Western's 10 made three-pointers with six from behind the arc for a total of 18 points off the bench.
 
The Leathernecks finished their non-league schedule and now set their sights on Summit League Play starting with South Dakota State inside Western Hall on Friday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m.  
 
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