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Rachael Keating

Western Clashes at Bellarmine in Inaugural Meeting

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

The Leathernecks take on the Knights Saturday (Dec. 19) at 11 a.m.

GAME SEVEN 
 
Who | Western Illinois (0-6) at Bellarmine (0-2) 
When | Saturday (Dec. 19) at 11 a.m. (CT) 
Where | Louisville, Ky. - Freedom Hall 
TV | ESPN+ 
Social Media | Twitter + Facebook #TRADITIONofTOUGH

Tip-Off | The Western Illinois women's basketball team makes up its original season opener at Bellarmine on Saturday (Dec. 19). 

Headlines 
  • Last year's Summit League Newcomer of the Year, Evan Zars, is leading the Summit in blocked shots (13) and recently moved to sixth all-time with 60 career rejections.
  • Saturday's game will serve as the inaugural meeting between both programs as Bellarmine is in its first year of Division I and a member of the ASUN Conference. The original game on Nov. 29 was postponed. 
  • WIU is coming off its home opener loss (85-55) to Illinois State on Sunday (Dec. 13). The defeat snapped a nine-game win streak in home openers. 
  • Senior Grace Gilmore sits at 15th in free throw attempts (38) and 20th in free throws made (28) nationally. 
  • Elizabeth Lutz leads the conference in steals (16) and steals per game (2.7). The 16 total swipes pace her 18 in the country. 
  • Freshman Anna Deets is tied for fifth in the Summit League with eleven three-pointers. The guard has hit a three in all six games this season. 
  • Western is in a three-way tie for the conference leader in steals (46) with Kansas City and South Dakota State.   
 
Last Time Out | WIU was topped in its home opener 85-55 against Illinois State (2-0) on Sunday (Dec. 13).  

In the first quarter, Western owned a quick 11-7 advantage at the first media timeout (4:07), but the in-state rival responded and closed the quarter on an 11-0 that turned into a 20-0 run in the second quarter and a 38-21 lead at the half. The Leathernecks trimmed the Redbird lead to 13 (42-29) behind an Elizabeth Lutz corner three at the 5:39 mark, but the visitors used a 14-5 run to enter the final frame 56-34 and hold on for the victory. 

Up Next | Western Illinois heads to its second round of Big Ten action against Iowa on Tuesday (Dec. 22) for a 1 p.m. tip-off. 
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