Leathernecks Play Host to Second Top 25 Team This Season

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Western will tango with No. 25 South Dakota this Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

Western Illinois (12-13, 8-4) vs. No. 25 South Dakota (22-3, 10-1)
Date / Tipoff:	Saturday, Feb. 16 \| 4:30 p.m.
Location:	Macomb, Ill.
Site:	Western Hall
Radio:	Ryan Kent Jr. (WRMS)

Think Pink: Western Illinois Athletics has partnered with McDonough District Hospital and Linda's Fund to 'Think Pink.' The event will raise money in support of women diagnosed with breast cancer, and for $1 fans can purchase pink ribbons, wristbands or post on the department's 'Think Pink' wall. T-shirts can also be purchased for $15; join the fun by donating through our Think Pink donation form.

To purchase a t-shirt in advance, please call (309) 298-1190 or email Diane Cassimire at dl-cassimire@wiu.edu.

Series History: The Coyotes lead the all-time series, 13-3, and were the winners of the first meeting this season by a score of 92-49.

Western's Last Outing: Western Illinois battled from behind to take its fourth consecutive win in a 79-67 decision over Omaha.

For the first time in Summit League play this season, three scored 20-plus points as Olivia Kaufmann had 24, Danni Nichols posted a career-high 22, and Annabel Graettinger added 20.

Keep the Streak: The Leathernecks are in the midst of a four-game winning streak and are averaging 90.5 points per game over the stretch.

North Dakota (111-90) | Marked the second time Western has eclipsed the century mark this season and the second most points scored on the year

North Dakota State (82-70) | Four scored in double-figures, guided by Taylor Higginbotham's season-high 27 points

at Purdue Fort Wayne (90-61) | 29 points marked Western's second-largest winning margin of the season and best in Summit League play

at Omaha (79-67) | Three scored 20-plus points guided by Olivia Kaufmann's 24

The Freshman: Danni Nichols has become a regular fixture in WIU's starting lineup, and has made the most of the opportunity by averaging 17.6 points per game in her last six starts. Nichols has led Western in scoring three times this season, back-to-back recently, with 21 points versus Purdue Fort Wayne (which was a season-high at the time) and 16 at South Dakota.

There Can Only Be One: Taylor Higginbotham became Western's all-time leading scorer Sunday (Feb. 3) in the team's 82-70 win over North Dakota State, and currently possesses 1,736.

She eclipsed Emily Clemens' career record in the 8:43 mark of the third quarter en route to a season-high 27 points. Clemens graduated from Western a year ago with 1,699 points.

Summit League Players of the Week: Western has garnered the league's weekly award three times this season.

Taylor Higginbotham | Moved to second on WIU's all-time scoring list at Las Vegas Hoops Tournament (Dec. 22)
Olivia Kaufmann | Averaged 15 points, 8.5 assists, six steals and 5.5 rebounds in wins over Omaha and Purdue Fort Wayne (Jan. 21)
Taylor Higginbotham | Became Western's all-time leading scorer; helped Leathernecks to wins over North Dakotas with back-to-back, 20-point games (Feb. 1)

Ten Makes: Danni Nichols joined Olivia Kaufmann, and Elizabeth Lutz atop the list of Western's single-game highs with 10 made field goals at Purdue Fort Wayne (Jan. 19). All three have hit the mark at some point this season, and it currently sits as the most made in the 2017-18 season.

Lutz vs. MacMurray College (Nov. 12) | 23 points
Kaufmann vs. North Dakota (Jan. 13 & Feb. 1) | 28 points (career-highs)
Nichols at Purdue Fort Wayne | 21 points (career-high)

The Long Ball: Western sits 13th in the nation with 224 made 3-pointers. The team has made 10 or more treys in seven games this season including a program-record 28 against MacMurray College (Nov. 12) which also set an NCAA Division I record.

After a seven-game hiatus of converting less than 10, the Leathernecks' 3-point stroke returned with 15 against North Dakota State (Feb. 1).

Running Point: Olivia Kaufmann is the Leathernecks' primary ball handler with a team-high 96 assists, and she also guides the offense with 16.0 points per game, ranking second and third in the Summit League, respectively.

The junior became the Leathernecks' starting point guard this season and has seen the most action on the floor with 771 minutes.

New Kyra on the Block: Kyra Washington joined the Leathernecks at the start of the 2018-19 season after transferring in from Parkland College. She's been an absolute spark off the bench, shooting a team-high 45.9 percent from beyond the arc, where she has swished 34 of her 45 field goals. Washington is second on the team in made threes and averages 6.0 PPG.

She has made three or more 3-pointers in six games, highlighted by a perfect 4-for-4 performance at South Dakota State.

Ring the Bel: On a roster that includes six freshmen, South Dakota State transfer Annabel Graettinger helped bolster the Leathernecks veteran leadership ahead of the 2018-19 season. The redshirt-junior is one of four on the team with Summit League Championship experience as she won the title with SDSU in 2016. (Olivia Kaufmann, Sam Pryor, and Taylor Higginbotham are the only three remaining from Western's 2017 championship run.)

In 22 starts this season, Graettinger has scored in double-figures 15 times to average 11.6 PPG.

On the Verge: Olivia Kaufmann has been on the edge of capturing her first career double-double three times this season.

at Oral Roberts (Jan. 5) | 14 points, 9 rebounds
at North Dakota State (Jan. 11) | 13 points, 9 rebounds
Omaha (Jan. 16) | 17 points, 9 assists

Saving Grace: Grace Gilmore has started off her sophomore campaign on the highest of notes. She was inserted into the starting lineup this season, appearing in every game so far, and has already surpassed several of her 2017-18 stats.

2017-18: Minutes (169), Rebounds (36), Assists (15), Steals (7), Points (77)
2018-19: Minutes (642), Rebounds (106), Assists (37), Steals (28), Points (176)

Boards & More: Averaging 7.6 rebounds per game, Taylor Higginbotham is the most active Leatherneck on the boards. She currently ranks fourth in the Summit League in the category and has pulled down 10 or more in six games this season, finishing with a double-double in all but one of the contests.

Austin Peay: 12 rebounds, 14 points
Furman: 12 rebounds, 16 points
Denver: 17 rebounds (career-high), 23 points
at Oral Roberts: 10 rebounds, 16 points
at North Dakota State: 10 rebounds, 21 points
at Omaha: 10 rebounds, 5 points

The Leathernecks are 3-2 in games where Higginbotham posts a double-double.

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