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Western Illinois University Athletics

AB
Matthew Brooks
85
Winner South Dakota St. SDSU 10-5,3-0 Summit League
63
Western Ill. WIU 5-9,0-3 Summit League
Winner
South Dakota St. SDSU
10-5,3-0 Summit League
85
Final
63
Western Ill. WIU
5-9,0-3 Summit League
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
South Dakota St. SDSU 28 20 20 17 85
Western Ill. WIU 16 23 13 11 63

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

Women’s Basketball Drops Home Contest to SDSU

Mallory McDermott (16), Elizabeth Lutz (10) and Addi Brownfield (10) all scored in double figures, Leathernecks host South Dakota on Saturday (Dec. 31).

MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois women's basketball was in action Thursday night (Dec. 29), hosting the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State in a Summit League matchup at Western Hall that finished as an 85-63 victory for the visitors. The Leathernecks will turn it around quickly, hosting South Dakota at 2 p.m. on Saturday (Dec. 31).
 
"The big positive was I thought we played really hard, especially for most of the game. At the beginning of the first half we were a little taken aback - and we can't play like that - but we have a lot of kids that are willing to come in and play really hard which goes a long way," head coach JD Gravina said. "South Dakota State is a really good team… I think we have some things to build around so that's encouraging."
 
Carla Flores returned to the starting lineup as both teams came out firing early. Through the first six minutes of action, both WIU and SDSU were shooting over 50% from the field and from deep, though the Jackrabbits finished the first quarter on a 12-3 run to take a 12 point lead after one.
 
Western Illinois put together a strong effort in the second period of play, outscoring SDSU 23-20 and holding the Jackrabbits to 1-6 (16.7%) from deep while going on a 12-5 run late in the period to bring the game within five points at 42-37. Mallory McDermott got Western Hall rocking with a shot from several feet beyond the arc that banked in, leading to an SDSU timeout with 1:36 to go. At the halftime buzzer, the visitors led 48-39.
 
"What we've got to do is try to play with that level of emotion even when those shots don't fall," Gravina said. "Seeing that run in the second quarter and what we're capable of, we need to figure out how to get to that level emotionally all the time even if we're not necessarily knocking down shots."
 
South Dakota State's offense continued to roll in the second half, outscoring Western 11-0 in the first five minutes of action as the Leathernecks' hot shooting cooled down. Kennedy Flanagan scored six points during a quick 11-4 run in the latter half of the quarter to bring the game back within 13, but the Jackrabbits used another 11-0 run early in the fourth to take an 85-63 victory.
 
McDermott led the team in scoring with 16 points on 5-7 shooting and 4-6 from deep, while Elizabeth Lutz finished with 10 points, four rebounds, three assists, four steals and two blocks. Addi Brownfield paired 10 points with four rebounds, while Flanagan tied a season-high with eight points on 4-8 shooting and blocked one shot. Alissa Dins grabbed eight rebounds to go with her six points and one block, while Jada Thorpe scored six points. Lily Randgaard tied for the team lead in assists with three in just under 12 minutes of action.
 
"I thought Mallory McDermott had a good game," Coach Gravina said. "She's obviously someone who can knock down shots but she played really hard defensively which I can really appreciate.
 
"Kennedy came in and played some good minutes which is really important for us. We're going to need her as someone who can guard inside, so it was good to see her play some good quality minutes especially against such a quality opponent," Gravina added. "I think she's embracing and getting comfortable with her role, knowing where she's going to be at and where her playing time is going to come from and trying to be someone who goes out there and helps our team in those minutes."
 
As a team, Western finished with 14 assists on 22 made baskets, draining 10 shots from deep and shooting 81.8% from the free throw line. The Leathernecks forced more turnovers (15) than they committed (10), finishing with double-digit steals for the sixth-consecutive game and converting those steals into 10 points off turnovers. The bench chipped in 36 points.
 
WIU women's basketball is back in action at 2 p.m. on Saturday (Dec. 31), hosting South Dakota at Western Hall.
 
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