Skip To Main Content

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Western Illinois University Athletics

Group
Sarah Twidwell
92
Winner Oral Roberts ORU 16-12, 9-6 SL
85
Western Illinois WIUWW 12-15, 8-6 SL
Winner
Oral Roberts ORU
16-12, 9-6 SL
92
Final
85
Western Illinois WIUWW
12-15, 8-6 SL
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Oral Roberts ORU 25 30 15 22 92
Western Illinois WIUWW 26 26 17 16 85

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks Fall in Senior Night Barn Burner

Taylor Higginbotham scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebound in her final game at Western Hall.

MACOMB Ill.- The Western Illinois (12-15, 8-6) women's basketball team came up short in a fast-paced shootout 92-85 to Oral Roberts (16-12, 9-6) on Saturday (Feb. 23). The lone senior Taylor Higginbotham was honored before the game.
 
"They (Oral Roberts) hit big shot after big shot," head coach JD Gravina said. "It's not a fluke. Even with the way they shot it, we were in the game. Tying the game up late says a lot about our fight, but we did not shoot the ball well in the second half and to beat a team that goes 20-for-37 from three, you have to shoot well. At the end of the day, they made a few more than us."
 
Oral Roberts led by as many as nine points in the first quarter after a Jordan Gilbert jumper put Western behind 16-7 with 6:10 left in the first quarter. From the 3:52 mark to 1:13 remaining in the opening quarter, the Leathernecks embarked on a 10-0 run capped off by a Higginbotham 3-pointer from the right wing for a 26-22 advantage.
 
After trailing 26-25 after one, the Golden Eagles secured a multiple possession lead again in the second quarter at 49-41 with three minutes to go in the half. The Leathernecks fought to go on an 11-3 run and tie the game 52-52 on a Danni Nichols layup. Sarah Garvie connected on a 3-pointer to put Oral Roberts ahead 55-52 at halftime.
 
Yet again, the Golden Eagles began to pull away in the third quarter, but the Purple and Gold responded. Western dug out of a 60-52 hole at the 7:29 mark to take a 66-65 advantage on a Grace Gilmore shot in the paint with 2:13 left. A back-and-forth battle ensued as Elizabeth Lutz drained a triple to help the Leathernecks go ahead 69-67 before Garvie answered with another trey to hand Oral Roberts a 70-69 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Both squads traded blows in the final period of action. Annabel Graettinger netted a trifecta from the right side to knot the game at 85-85, but Oral Roberts ended the game on a 7-0 run.
 
Combined, both teams made 30 shots from beyond the arc. Graettinger led Western in scoring with 16 points while Higginbotham and Nichols each scored 15 with eight rebounds. Olivia Kaufmann added 13 points with a team-high four assists.
 
The Leathernecks travel to Denver Thursday, Feb. 28 to begin their final road swing of the season against the Pioneers with a 2 p.m. (CT) tip-off.
 
Print Friendly Version