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Western Illinois University Athletics

Elizabeth Lutz
93
Winner South Dakota State SDSUW 9-5, 1-0
84
Western Illinois WIU 4-10, 0-1
Winner
South Dakota State SDSUW
9-5, 1-0
93
Final
84
Western Illinois WIU
4-10, 0-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
South Dakota State SDSUW 25 24 22 22 93
Western Illinois WIU 16 21 29 18 84

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Leathernecks Display Grit In Summit League Opener

SDSU walked away with the decision, but the Leathernecks opened Summit League play with a solid foundation for the future.

MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois' women's basketball team may not have opened its Summit League schedule with a win Friday night (Dec. 28), but the Leathernecks displayed tenacity and grit in a 93-84 decision against the reigning tournament champions, South Dakota State. 

En route to a career-high 28 points, freshman Elizabeth Lutz brought the Leatherneck contingent to its feet when she banked a 3-pointer as time expired at the end of the third quarter. Previously trailing by as much as a dozen, the Lutz trey pulled Western within five, 71-66, to start the final frame, but the team was unable to get over the hump.

"We've just got so much better over the last few games," said head coach JD Gravina. "The last two weeks of practice after the Compass Challenge were the best we've had because they wanted to get better. They're working hard, getting after it, and it's showing in games, even in the loss tonight.

"We forced a really good ball handling team into 24 turnovers. We obviously have to get better at rebounding, but we got a lot of good shots tonight. Honestly, it may have been the most 'good shots' we've ever got against South Dakota State, so I think that's very encouraging." 

Macy Miller, the Summit League Preseason Player of the Year, scored 11 points to pace her team to a 25-16 lead after one quarter, and the advantage evaporated in the second with the help of back-to-back 3-pointers by Kyra Washington. She tied the contest at 29-all with 5:46 to go before halftime, but SDSU remained in the driver's seat with a 15-5 run entering the break. At the half, South Dakota State led 49-37. 

Western finished the game with five scoring in double-digits: Lutz (28), Washington (14), Grace Gilmore (13), Olivia Kaufmann (12), Annabel Graettinger (11). 

The Leathernecks return to Western Hall Sunday where they will play host to Denver at 2 p.m.
 
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