Skip To Main Content

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Western Illinois University Athletics

Danni Nichols
Larry Dean
64
Winner Eastern Illinois EIU 4-3
62
Western Illinois WIU 3-7
Winner
Eastern Illinois EIU
4-3
64
Final
62
Western Illinois WIU
3-7
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Eastern Illinois EIU 14 18 19 13 64
Western Illinois WIU 8 16 16 22 62

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Leathernecks Outlasted in Game One of Compass Challenge

Western tied things at 60-all in the closing seconds of Friday’s game against Eastern Illinois but was unable to complete the comeback.

CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Western Illinois women's basketball team kicked off the four-game Compass Challenge Friday (Dec. 7) with a nail-biting 64-62 defeat to Eastern Illinois. The outing marked the second time in as many games the Leathernecks overcame a double-digit deficit late in the fourth quarter - tying things at 60-all in the final seconds against EIU – but were unable to complete the comeback. 

The Panthers rattled in a three-pointer to take a 53-40 lead at the start of the fourth period, but the baskets were countered by a 12-2 WIU run where Danni Nichols accounted for nine of team's points. By the end of the stretch, the Leathernecks pulled within two, 54-52, with 3:36 left on the clock and Nichols tied the game on a layup with 36 seconds remaining. 

With both teams over the foul limit, they each traded free throws to conclude the affair. Western had possession of the ball to close the game but was unable to get off a shot before time expired.  

"Much too little, too late," said head coach JD Gravina. "Once we got to the point where we felt we were going to lose, we started playing a little bit. It's definitely a mental thing. I told our players they are going to have to take some responsibility and get it figured out. I'm not putting the blame on them, but the truth of the matter is if we played like we did in our exhibition games, I'd be really happy, but we've got to work. It's like mentally we're just so scared." 

The east versus west matchup saw both teams struggling to find their rhythm in the first quarter as five of the Leathernecks' eight points came from the free throw line, and neither was able to take care of the ball with 18 combined turnovers. 

Despite the miscues, play improved in the second quarter, and the Panthers held a narrow 32-24 edge at halftime. 

Nichols finished the evening with a game-high, career-high 20 points, coming off the bench, while Taylor Higginbotham added 11 and Olivia Kaufmann 10. 

The Compass Challenge includes all four cardinal direction schools in the state and will see the Leathernecks wrap action Saturday in a 1 p.m. tipoff against Northern Illinois. 
 
 
 
Print Friendly Version