SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - As the build-up to The 2021 Summit League Championships is days away, the Western Illinois women's basketball team received postseason recognition with Grace Gilmore being named All-Summit League Second Team and Evan Zars an Honorable Mention on Thursday (March 4).
"I'm really excited for Grace and Evan," head coach JD Gravina said. "Grace has given her heart and soul to this program, and I'm so excited for her to earn some recognition her senior year. Evan has worked her tail off, and is improving every week. Her future's so bright here."
In her final season in the Purple and Gold, Gilmore has made it one to remember. At Omaha, she poured in 46 points to set the WIU single-game scoring record and tie the Summit all-time mark. Gilmore earned her first career player of the week honor for the performance as the 46 points is the second-most by an NCAA women's basketball player this season. The senior is averaging a career-high 13.3 points per game and 15.1 in league play with double-digit nights in 11 out of 14 conference games with five straight. The postseason honor is the first of her career as Gilmore has appeared in 105 games with 82 consecutive starts and 839 career points for Western.
Zars adds another accolade to her resume after being named The Summit League All-Newcomer and a spot on the All-Newcomer Team last season. She has collected eight double-doubles while averaging 11.3 points per game and 8.9 rebounds per game. Recently she became fourth all-time in program history with 81 blocks. The forward has eclipsed 500 points in her second season at WIU and ranks second in the Summit in rebounds (196), rebounds per game (8.9), blocked shots (54), and blocked shots per game (1.5).
The league's men's and women's basketball postseason list were announced Thursday (March 4), ahead of the Summit League Tournament in Sioux Falls. The No. 5 Leathernecks are scheduled to take on No. 4 Kansas City Sunday (March 7) at 11::45 a.m. The game will be streamed live on Midco Sports Plus and ESPN+.
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