Sarah Twidwell

Leathernecks Go for Four at Omaha

Thursday, February 07, 2019

The Leathernecks are currently in the midst of a three-game winning streak

Western Illinois (11-13, 7-4) at Omaha (7-6, 1-9)
Date / Tipoff:	Saturday, Feb. 9 \| 2 p.m.
Location:	Omaha, Neb.
Site:	Baxter Arena
Radio:	Ryan Kent Jr. (WRMS)

Series History: The Leathernecks have not lost to Omaha since a 79-66 decision back in 2016. Western is currently working an eight-game winning streak versus the Mavericks and improved its all-time series edge to 13-4 after a 78-70 victory on Jan. 16.

Western's Last Outing: Western Illinois led the entire way in a 90-61 routing of Purdue Fort Wayne. The 29-point victory marked the Leathernecks' second-largest winning margin of the season as four finished in double figures to cement the team's third consecutive Summit League success.

Olivia Kaufmann wrapped the afternoon with 20 points – 14 scored in the final quarter – while Danni Nichols added 17, Taylor Higginbotham 16 and Kyra Washington 11.

Keep the Streak: The Leathernecks are in the midst of a three-game winning streak and have scored 80-plus points in each of the decision.

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

The Freshman: Danni Nichols has become a regular fixture in WIU's starting lineup, and has made the most of the opportunity by averaging 16.8 points per game in her last five starts. Nichols has led Western in scoring three times this season, back-to-back recently with a season-high 21 points versus Purdue Fort Wayne 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 1,731.

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 14th in the nation with 219 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 93 assists, and she also guides the offense with 15.7 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 738 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 for Western, shooting 46.6 percent from beyond the arc with 6.2 points per game. Thirty-four of Washington's 45 field goals have come from 3-point territory, and she's currently ranked second on the team in the category.

Washington 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 21 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 (616), Rebounds (101), Assists (35), Steals (28), Points (171)

Boards & More: Averaging 7.5 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 five games this season, finishing with a double-double in each of the contests.

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

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

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