Rachael Keating

Games 8 & 9 Preview: Back in Macomb

Thursday, December 08, 2022 | By: WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks host Valpo, SIUE this weekend.

GAME 8 INFO:
Who: Western Illinois (2-6) vs Valparaiso (2-5)
When: Friday (Dec. 9) – 6 p.m.
Where: Western Hall – Macomb, Ill.

GAME 9 INFO:
Who: Western Illinois (2-6) vs Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (0-7)
When: Sunday (Dec. 11) – 2 p.m.
Where: Western Hall – Macomb, Ill.

SOCIAL MEDIA: @WIUWBB (Twitter + Instagram + Facebook)

Quick Hitters:

Western Illinois got off to its hottest start of the season against SEMO on Wednesday (Dec. 7), using a 14-2 run fueled by efficient shooting from three point range to lead 16-7 after one quarter.
The Leathernecks connected on 10 shots from beyond the arc in that game against the Redhawks, setting a new season-high. Western now ranks second in the Summit League with an average of 7.5 threes per game.
The Leatherneck defense has been active this season, currently leading the league in opponent turnovers, with opposing teams averaging 19.8 per game while facing WIU. With a turnover margin of 1.5, Western sits at fourth in the league.

Scouting the Beacons
Valparaiso is 2-5 through seven games this season, most recently falling 68-62 to the Broncos of Western Michigan in a home contest. As a team, they're averaging 65.9 points per game while shooting 43% from the field and 33.3% from deep, and are led by head coach Mary Evans who has created a team identity around the three point shot. Leah Earnest leads the Beacons in scoring (13.4) and rebounding (8.9) per game, while Olivia Brown is coming off a 20-point, five-rebound performance against Western Michigan.

Scouting the Cougars
Cougar women's basketball is 0-7 this season and coming off a run of matchups against Power Five competition. The team most recently faced Louisville on the road but has also played Iowa State, Xavier, Memphis and Purdue, and started the season with matchups against Eastern Michigan, Saint Louis and Missouri S&T. Ajulu Thatha has played in every game this season and leads the team in both total scoring and rebounding, while tying with KK Rodriguez for the team-lead in steals.

Deets' Big Game
Anna Deets returned to the starting lineup on Wednesday and made an immediate impact, scoring nine points during a 14-0 run early in the first quarter. Deets finished the game with 19 points on 6-13 shooting and 5-10 from deep, while grabbing a career-high seven rebounds and finishing with two steals. A guard from Mason City, Iowa, Deets now holds averages of 9.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game while shooting 38.5% from the floor.

Balanced Production
Now in her fifth season at Western Illinois, Elizabeth Lutz has started every single game this season and has continues to impact the game in a variety of different ways. Against SEMO on Dec. 7, Lutz finished with seven points, five rebounds and five assists, marking the third time this season that she's finished with at least four rebounds and four assists in a game. Originally from California, Mo., Lutz has also recorded multiple steals in five games this season – twice finishing with four.

117.3
Five Leathernecks are averaging 20-plus minutes per game this season, all adding up to 117.3 of the 200 total minutes available per game. Alissa Dins leads all Leathernecks in playing time at 25.9 per game and is followed by Elizabeth Lutz (25.0), Jada Thorpe (24.5), Zareia Chevre (21.0) and Anna Deets (20.9). Five other players are in double-digit minutes per game, led by Mallory McDermott (16.9) and followed by Addi Brownfield (16.6), Allie Meadows (14.8), Carla Flores (13.8) and Kennedy Flanagan (12.3).

Perimeter Aggression
Last season saw Western rank in the top-three among Summit League schools for steals, and this season has been no different. Through eight games, the Leathernecks' average of 10 steals per game ranks as the second-best mark in the league, with Elizabeth Lutz's 2.1 per game ranking in the top-five among players; Mallory McDermott, Jada Thorpe, and Zareia Chevre all hold averages of at least one steal per game as well.

On the Glass
Western Illinois had its best rebounding performance of the season last weekend against Eureka, out-rebounding the Red Devils 58-46, including a 22-12 advantage on the offensive glass. WIU currently ranks seventh in the Summit League for rebounding average (35.9) and fifth in defensive rebounding average (26.9).

Making an Impact
The Leathernecks welcomed six new faces to the program this offseason and they have wasted no time in making an impact on the program. Zareia Chevre, Allie Meadows and Addi Brownfield have played in every game this season, while Lily Randgaard (five) and Madison Allen (four) have appeared in at least half the games. Chevre's scoring average (7.8) ranks third on the team while Brownfield's free throw percentage (72.7) is third-best among Leathernecks to attempt at least 10 shots at the line.

Big Time Bench
The Leatherneck bench has been a consistent source of offense this season, averaging 26 points per game. Western's reserves have scored at least 23 points in all but two games thus far and unleashed a season-high 58 against Eureka last week.

Let it Fly
WIU's identity as a team in recent years has centered around the three-point shot, and the 2022-23 season is no different. During the team's preseason press conference, head coach JD Gravina talked about the importance of taking and making shots from deep this season, emphasizing the idea of "letting it fly." After averaging 26 attempts from range last season, the Leathernecks have averaged 26.9 per game this year and are coming off a matchup with SEMO where the team made a season-high 10 shots from deep.

Up Next
After hosting Valparaiso and SIUE this weekend, Western faces St. Xavier at Vibrant Arena at the Mark in Moline, Ill., before heading up to North Dakota to begin Summit League play.

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