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Western Illinois University Athletics

Evan Zars
57
Western Illinois WIU 0-5
67
Winner Southeast Missouri SEMOW 2-2
Western Illinois WIU
0-5
57
Final
67
Southeast Missouri SEMOW
2-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Western Illinois WIU 5 17 18 17 57
Southeast Missouri SEMOW 16 11 23 17 67

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

Leathernecks Fall at SEMO, 67-57

Western hosts it's home opener versus Illinois State on Sunday (Dec. 13) at 2 p.m.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. The Western Illinois women's basketball team (0-5) made it a two-possession game late in the fourth quarter, but the Southeast Missouri Redhawks (2-2) held on 67-57 on Friday (Dec. 11) night. 

"I thought we played really hard tonight and honestly took a good step forward," head coach JD Gravina said. "We definitely played well enough defensively to give ourselves a chance. It always seems to take us a while to click offensively, and once we do, I think we have enough weapons to get where we want to be."
 
After being down by as many as 13, the Leathernecks eyed a comeback late in the fourth. Sam Pryor hit her fourth three-pointer of the night and made it a six-point SEMO lead, 60-54, at 2:14. She finished with a team-high 13 points. Senior Grace Gilmore kept it a six-point game (62-56) with a fast-break layup at the 1:50 mark, but a Redhawk offensive board and putback ended the rally. 

Evan Zars nearly added her third double-double as he had eight points and 11 rebounds. Her two blocks bring her career total to 59 and tie Laura Jensen (1985-88) for sixth all-time.

WIU helped erase a 13-2 SEMO run that closed the first quarter behind two threes from Mallory McDermott in the second to make it a five-point game (18-13) into the media timeout. Elizabeth Lutz continued the trend from deep and hit a three to make it 20-17 out of the stoppage at 4:29. 

Down by five at half (27-22), Southeast Missouri pieced together a 7-0 run to start the third quarter and force a Western timeout. Danni Nichols completed two traditional three-point plays, but another quick opponent run fed off the Leathernecks to maintain a 10 point advantage into the fourth.  

Sophomore Alissa Dins helped spark the rally in the final frame. She grabbed two offensive rebounds that resulted in a Carla Flores layup and three for a 10-2 push. 

Western Illinois will host its home opener against in-state rival Illinois State on Sunday (Dec. 13) at 2 p.m. 
 
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