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Western Illinois University Athletics

WBB Seniors 2019-2020
66
Omaha UNO 6-20,1-12 Summit League
79
Winner Western Ill. WIU 15-12,9-5 Summit League
Omaha UNO
6-20,1-12 Summit League
66
Final
79
Western Ill. WIU
15-12,9-5 Summit League
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Omaha UNO 19 13 17 17 66
Western Ill. WIU 24 14 22 19 79

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

Leathernecks Send Off Seniors in 11th Home Victory

Western Illinois defeated Omaha 79-66 for the 11th victory in Western Hall on Thursday (Feb. 20) night.

MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois women's basketball team (15-12, 9-5) capped off Senior Day and the last home game in style with a 79-66 victory over the Omaha Mavericks (6-20, 1-12) on Thursday (Feb. 20) night.
 
"It was a big crowd, and I would of loved to have that up and down, fun game where both teams are hitting shots everywhere, while it didn't feel like that, I give our players a lot of credit slowly but surely extending that lead and getting good shots to pull away," head coach JD Gravina said.
 
The 11th victory inside Western Hall ties third all-time in home victories in a season. The last time Western won 11 games at home was in the 2017-18 and 2003-04 seasons. 
 
In her final game inside the hall, Olivia Kaufmann led all scorers with 17 for the 26th time in her career. Three others followed the senior in double figures with Danni Nichols (16),  Evan Zars (15), and Grace Gilmore (13).
 
Omaha got off to quick 7-2 lead before the Leatherneck offense found its rhythm. Nearly halfway through the first quarter, Gilmore weaved her way through traffic for the hoop and the harm. With 3:10 left in the opening frame, Evan Zars ripped away an offensive rebound and kicked it out to Sam Pryor for the trifecta and a 14-10 lead.
 
A late barrage of WIU 3-pointers helped the home team to a 24-19 edge at the end of the first quarter.
 
Kaufmann buried a deep right-wing triple with 7:50 to go in the second quarter as the Leathernecks led 30-23. Josie Filer of the Mavericks cut the deficit to one possession at 33-30 on a mid-range jumper at the 5:26 mark. Points came at a premium on both sides until halftime with Western ahead 38-32.
 
The Leathernecks showed their adjustments early on in the third quarter on a layup by Zars in the opening moments. Carla Flores stepped back and drilled a baseline jump shot to put Western ahead by double digits, 45-34, with 7:46 remaining in the period. A 3-pointer by Mikaela Ekdahl kept the Mavericks within striking distance trailing 53-47 in the final two minutes before the fourth.
 
UNO crawled back and made it a five-point game (62-57, WIU) at 7:03 in the fourth before Gilmore converted successfully on back-to-back trips to the free-throw line to begin a 13-4 swing that tamed the Maverick comeback. The Leathernecks finished 20-26 from the line. 
 
Western Illinois concludes  the regular season with trips to Oral Roberts Thursday (Feb. 27) and the season finale at Denver (Feb. 29).
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
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