Leathernecks Gain 20th Win In Road Victory Over NDSU

Western Illinois defeated the Bison 77-60 in Fargo.

Box Score FARGO, N.D. — Western Illinois notched back-to-back 20-win seasons with a 77-60 win on the road at North Dakota State (Feb. 22).

The last time Western posted back-to-back seasons of 20 or more wins was during the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons.

Emily Clemens led Western (20-8, 9-4) with 24 points and seven assists, followed by Morgan Blumer's 13. Taylor Higginbotham chipped in 11, while both Olivia Braun and Olivia Kaufmann added 10 apiece.

"Road games are always a battle in this league, and tonight was no different," said head coach JD Gravina. "We battled back from a poor start and played a really good second half. We made a ton of active plays defensively and that got our offense going."

The Bison (9-18, 2-11) opened the game on a quick 9-2 run, but the Leathernecks were able to claw back and retake the lead. In the final 1:31 of the quarter, Western Illinois went on a 7-0 run that was capped off by an Emily Clemens layup to lead 16-13 after one.

North Dakota state was able to retake a 3-point lead with 4:20 to go in the second, but Clemens answered with a buried shot from beyond the arc to tied it up at 26-all. In the closing seconds of the half, Taylor Higginbotham stole the ball and found Clemens for the fast-break score, but the Bison were able to get a basket in the paint, steal the inbounds pass and nail a jumper as time expired.

Western held onto a 32-31 lead at the half.

The Leathernecks jumped out to a two-possession lead after Michelle Farrow knocked down a corner three. The Waukesha, Wis. native followed up with another buried trey, which sparked a quick run that was capped off by another three from Blumer. That sequence forced a Bison timeout with 3:52 to go, as the Leathernecks led 50-42.

After building up a double-digit lead in the third, the Bison responded with a 7-0 spurt to trail 54-49 with 1:10 to go in the quarter. Over the final minute of the third, the Leathernecks got some momentum.

They went up 10 after Kaufmann got an and-1, followed by a no-look pass from Clemens to Braun as time in the quarter expired.

In the first two minutes of the fourth, WIU extended its lead to 63-49 and forced another Bison timeout. The lead eventually grew and stayed at 17, as the Leathernecks completed the season sweep over NDSU.

Western Illinois now turns around for its final regular season game on the road at Denver. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. (CST) on Saturday (Feb. 24).

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Players Mentioned

#12 Morgan Blumer: G; 5' 11"; Senior; Milton / Florida Gulf Coast

#3 Olivia Braun: F; 6' 1"; Senior; St. Catherine's / Toledo

#2 Emily Clemens: G; 5' 4"; Senior; Muscatine

#22 Michelle Farrow: G; 5' 10"; Senior; Waukesha West

#24 Taylor Higginbotham: G; 5' 10"; Junior; Germantown

#13 Olivia Kaufmann: G; 5' 8"; Sophomore; Jacksonville

Players Mentioned

#12 Morgan Blumer
: 5' 11"; Senior; Milton / Florida Gulf Coast
: G

#3 Olivia Braun
: 6' 1"; Senior; St. Catherine's / Toledo
: F

#2 Emily Clemens
: 5' 4"; Senior; Muscatine
: G

#22 Michelle Farrow
: 5' 10"; Senior; Waukesha West
: G

#24 Taylor Higginbotham
: 5' 10"; Junior; Germantown
: G

#13 Olivia Kaufmann
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; Jacksonville
: G