Skip To Main Content

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Western Illinois University Athletics

Olivia Kaufmann
68
Purdue Fort Wayne Pur-FW 4-12,0-3 Summit League
79
Winner Western Ill. WIU 8-9,2-2 Summit League
Purdue Fort Wayne Pur-FW
4-12,0-3 Summit League
68
Final
79
Western Ill. WIU
8-9,2-2 Summit League
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Purdue Fort Wayne Pur-FW 14 19 15 20 68
Western Ill. WIU 15 27 20 17 79

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

Kaufmann Joins 1,000 Point Club in Western Hall Victory

Western Illionis defeated Purdue Fort Wayne 79-68 Thursday (Jan. 9) to begin the three-game homestand.

MACOMB, Ill. - A new member of the 1,000 point club kicked off the three-game homestand for the Western Illinois women's basketball (8-9, 2-2) in 79-68 victory over Purdue Fort Wayne (4-12, 0-3) Thursday (Jan. 9)

"Fort Wayne has been through some adversity just like us," head coach JD Gravina said. "This was a battle of two teams that were scrapping for their lives. We made some good plays down the stretch, some good stops there, and it was really important when the game got close." 

Olivia Kaufmann accepted membership into the 1,000 point club with a three-pointer at 9:15 in the second quarter en route to her third double-double of the season. 

"It feels really good. I'm definitely happy we got the win along with it, or that would've been bittersweet," Kaufmann said. "I've had a great time at Western and I wouldn't have been able to do it without my teammates over the years and the coaching staff. I'm just really blessed to be where I am. It's been really fun."

The senior guard is the 19th Leatherneck to join the 1,000 point club. She joins three of her former teammates who have achieved the honor - Morgan Blumer (1,000), Emily Clemens (1,699), and Taylor Higginbotham (1,806). Under Gravina at WIU, this is the sixth player to achieve the milestone. 

"Honestly, they announced it over the speakers and I had no idea that it happened," added Kaufmann. "My teammates were talking about it after the game and I was like 'What?' I was just playing basketball, you know. There really wasn't a moment to soak it in. I just wanted to win and now I'm able to enjoy it more with getting the win." 

The Leathernecks and 'Dons had answers for each other in the league battle, maintaining a one-possession game before Carla Flores drilled a trey at 5:23 to close out the second quarter on a 15-6 run and give Western a 42-33 lead into the half. Flores, who earned her third career start, dropped 14 points to tie a career-high.

Right out of the gate into the third quarter, the Leatherneck attack continued. Evan Zars slowed down the PFW comeback with a layup to begin a 12 point run and the biggest lead of the game (17). She snatched 13 boards for her team-leading fifth double-double for a 62-48 lead to end the third. 

"Evan was a beast tonight, and that's the type of player we knew we got when we got her," Gravina added.  "She was huge for us – 8-of-11 scoring – and she's starting to turn the corner, starting to figure out how to get the ball inside. We want to try to get the easy baskets around the block area." 

Purdue Fort Wayne searching for its first Summit League victory climbed back and made it a three-point game (66-63) late in the fourth. While the purple and gold scored 46 points in the paint, it was the three-ball that tamed the Mastodon comeback. Elizabeth Lutz banked in a three followed by lockdown defense held the visitors to five more points to secure the league dub. 

Western Illinois concludes the homestand Sunday (Jan. 12) against the Denver Pioneers at 2 p.m. 

 
Print Friendly Version