MACOMB, Ill. - Career-highs, trips to the line, and the three-ball was the name of the game for the Western Illinois women's basketball in a 97-91 defeat of the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks Tuesday (Dec. 17) night.Â
"Overall a really good offensive battle," head coach JD Gravina said. "Going into the game, my biggest concern was that we wouldn't be able to score against them. Obviously, offensively I was really happy that we spaced them out and got to the free-throw line."Â
A deep three from Olivia Kaufmann started the midweek showdown, and that would be Western's motto of the night as a total of 17 threes poured in. The mark ties four fourth all-time in a game with the last occurrence against Chicago State Nov. 21, 2015.Â
Career-highs in points from Annabel Graettinger (26), Sam Pryor (15), and Kaufmann (30) also highlighted the fifth victory at home and a new leader in the all-time series (7-6, WIU). Graettinger shot a perfect 8-8 from the field and 4-4 from beyond the arc to aid Western's season-high in points (97). Â
After Evan Zars and three other Leathernecks combined for fives threes in the first quarter for a 25-21 lead, SEMO eventually climbed back and earned its first lead (30-28) at 6:07 in the second quarter. But, Pryor checked in and had different plans. The spark plug knocked down three three-pointers to regain the WIU lead twice for a 45-39 advantage into the half.Â
The Redhawks found its rhythm in the third quarter and chipped away to make it a one-point game, 68-67 heading into the final ten minutes.Â
While the career-highs were adding up for Western, the Redhawks didn't fizzle out in the fourth quarter, answering each Leatherneck basket and holding it to a one-possession game throughout. However, the visitor comeback hopes faded quickly as a nine-point run started by a Danni Nichols' jumper in the paint at 5:54 to go with the 38 total trips to the free throw.Â
Western Illinois concludes non-league play at the Compass Challenge at Northern Illinois starting on Thursday (Dec. 19) versus Southern Illinois. The tournament features all four directional Illinois institutions.Â
