MACOMB, Ill. - Prepared to host the 2021 Compass Challenge, Western Illinois women's basketball (6-2, 0-0) demonstrated a clear focus during day one of the annual tournament. Fighting against a talented Northern Illinois lineup, the Leathernecks went into its first overtime of the season, eventually coming out on top in a 92-83 finish.
After falling in showings during the past three seasons, it was Western's first win in the Compass Challenge.
"This is a tough tournament," acknowledged WIU head coach JD Gravina. "We saw the way some of their (Northern Illinois) scorers took it to past teams, so we knew the game would be a big challenge. I felt like we played well in the first half besides one notable run. The kids just stepped up to make big plays. Offensively, we did a better job of spacing them out, so it's nice to get a win against a good MAC team."
Fresh off of a performance that saw her enter the program's 1,000-point club, Danni Nichols put on a dazzling all-around display of 26 points (game-high), six rebounds, six assists, and two steals. The point total tied her career-high set at North Dakota on Jan. 26, 2020.
"It was definitely a great first win, and we knew we needed to pull through on our home floor," said the senior. "We started off playing pretty physical but really got going once we started to knock down shots and move more without the ball on offense."
Joining Nichols as an evening standout performer was Jada Thorpe. The shifty guard reached a new career-best in points (22), pouring in five three-pointers. Defensively, she was a menace -- swiping in five steals.
"I think tonight showed that our team is resilient, especially coming off against a bad loss," Thorpe mentioned. "We're ready for any challenge that comes our way and our group builds off of each other."
Possessions were played tightly in the opening quarter, as Anna Deets knocked down a jumper from far out to tie the score at 10-10. The sophomore stayed aggressive to add in a few free throws while her fellow guards pushed the ball in the open floor off of NIU misses. As the first period finished, Nichols scooped in a layup on a drive down the lane to put Western ahead 21-17. While threes from Nichols and Elizabeth Lutz started the second on the right foot for the Leathernecks, the team saw Northern Illinois gain momentum on an 11-2 run during the quarter's halfway point, using forced turnovers to make plays. The scoring margin remained unchanged for the final two and a half minutes, as the Huskies were up 41-34 at halftime.
After a quiet first half, Evan Zars entered the next 20 minutes with "a different look in her eye," as Gravina pointed out. The forward played all of the third quarter to total seven points, four rebounds, and a block during the span -- giving Western a deadlier interior presence. NIU battled on the glass to slightly stay in front, 51-50, after Lutz cashed a triple off of a Zars offensive haul-in. Deets was spotted at the top of the key for a trey of her own, tying things up once again (53-53). A second-chance bucket by the Huskies ended the third in their favor, 56-55.
It became Nichols' show in the fourth, as WIU leaned on her to take over with 10 period points. Fastbreak play and paint touches continue to work effectively, and Western increased its intensity to an even greater level once Thorpe swished a shot from beyond the arc, giving her Leathernecks a 72-70 lead. NIU made a tip-in layup late, followed by a clutch drawn foul by Nichols' spin move, where she made both free throws. Nevertheless, the Huskies found success on a three-point play, and Samantha Pryor's pull-up jumper was just off in a final look during regulation play. An extra five minutes was subsequently placed on the clock for overtime, reading 74-74.
One could say the 'Necks were hot once tipping off again, piecing an 8-0 run in just over 1.5 minutes. A key highlight involved a seven-point possession belonging to Nichols, who made free throws on a drawn foul and technical foul before pulling up from deep. Keeping its head down and pounding away, the ladies ultimately embraced once the final buzzer rang.
Western hit 16 team three-pointers for the second time this winter, striking nearly 49% from that distance. Zars pulled down a season-high 14 rebounds with her 15 points. Lutz chipped in 13 points, six assists, and two steals. Deets had ten points off the bench.
The Compass Challenge continues tomorrow, with Western facing Southern Illinois (2-2, 0-0) at 6 p.m. in the event's winner's bracket.
