Skip To Main Content

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Western Illinois University Athletics

WBB Team
Rachael Keating

Western Welcomes Reigning Summit League Champions

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

The Leathernecks and Coyotes tip at 4:30 p.m. on Friday (Jan. 22) and Saturday (Jan. 23).

GAMES 15 & 16 
 
Who | Western Illinois (3-11, 2-4) vs. South Dakota (8-3, 4-0)
When | Friday (Jan. 22) & Saturday (Jan. 23) at 4:30 p.m.
Where | Macomb, Ill. - Western Hall
TV | Leatherneck All-Access
Radio | Mixlr - RJ Larson  
Social Media | Twitter + Facebook #TRADITIONofTOUGH

Tip-Off | The Leathernecks host the reigning Summit League regular season and tournament champion, South Dakota on Friday (Jan. 22) and Saturday (Jan. 23). 

#BeatType1 | Saturday's game will serve as the #BeatType1 game as The Summit League and Sanford Health are once again teaming up to bring awareness to Type 1 diabetes during the 2020-21 basketball season. During the month of January, each of The Summit League's men's and women's basketball teams will participate in #BeatType1 game.  

To learn more about how you can get involved in assisting The Summit League in the fight against Type 1 diabetes, please visit thesummitleague.org/beattype1

 
Headlines 
  • Evan Zars was named The Summit League Player of the week on Monday (Jan. 18) after posting back-to-back double-doubles. The award was her first career as she was named Newcomer of the Year last season. 
  • Senior Grace Gilmore sits 4th in free throw attempts (102) and 7th in free throws made (74) nationally. Her 20 attempts on Saturday set the program record in a game and the 15 makes are good for 4th all-time, tying Kelle Lindbeck (1/8/82) at Iowa. 
  • All five starters - Grace Gilmore (21), Evan Zars (17), Elizabeth Lutz (15), Danni Nichols (15), and Carla Flores (10) - finished in double figures on Saturday. The last time was vs. North Dakota State (2/1/20).
  • Danni Nichols has scored double-digits in every Summit League contest this season for a total of 11 double-digit performances this year. 
  • Three Leathernecks are averaging double-figures in Summit League play - Evan Zars (14.3), Grace Gilmore (13.5) and Danni Nichols (12.8). 
  • WIU trails 3-14 all-time versus South Dakota, the Leathernecks last win was Feb. 25, 2017, in Western Hall. 
  • Grace Gilmore has recorded two games of eight assists, which is tied for third by a league player; she is first in assists (52) and assists per game (3.7) in the Summit. 
  • Elizabeth Lutz continues to lead the conference in steals (32) and steals per game (2.3). The 32 total swipes pace her 14th in the country. 
  • Head Coach JD Gravina won his 150th game in the conference opening victory (77-65) on Jan. 2 vs. NDSU, becoming the second coach in program history to achieve the mark. He owns the program's all-time winning percentage at .517.  
 
Summit Leaders | Both as a team and individually Western leads the conference in multiple categories - free-throw attempts (286), rebounds (494), steals (109) steals per game (7.8), three-point field goals attempted (342). 
 
Individually
-Grace Gilmore | assists (52), free-throws made (74), and free-throws attempted (102)
-Elizabeth Lutz | steals (32) and steals per game (2.3)
-Evan Zars | double-doubles (5), minutes played (409), and rebounds (125) 

Scouting the Coyotes | South Dakota is tied for first in the Summit with SDSU (4-0) after sweeping Denver and Kansas City… the Coyotes hung tough with #1 South Carolina in the season opener and were edged 81-71… Hannah Sjerven was named The Summit League Preseason Player of the Year and is averaging 17.6 points per game and 10.0 rebounds per game. 

Last Time Out |  Senior Grace Gilmore poured in a career-high 21 points to lead Western Illinois (3-11, 2-4) to an 82-76 victory over Kansas City (5-6, 2-3) on Saturday (Jan. 16) evening. 

"Today, our main goal was to bring more energy and be the more aggressive team," Gilmore said. "Even when Kansas City made a run, we didn't play scared. We were ready to get back at them. What is great about our team is that any night can be anyone's game. It was a great team win, great team effort, and everyone contributed."

All five starters - Gilmore (21), Evan Zars (17), Elizabeth Lutz (15), Danni Nichols (15), and Carla Flores (10) - finished in double figures for the series split against KC. 

Up Next | WIU heads back on the road for back-to-back road weekends at North Dakota (Jan. 29-30) and Omaha (Feb. 6-7). 
 
Print Friendly Version

Related Videos

Now Playing:

Related Stories