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Western Illinois University Athletics

WIU Women's Basketball
62
NIU NIU 0-2,0-0 MAC
95
Winner Western Ill. WIU 2-1,0-0 OVC
NIU NIU
0-2,0-0 MAC
62
Final
95
Western Ill. WIU
2-1,0-0 OVC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
NIU NIU 14 16 20 12 62
Western Ill. WIU 15 28 30 22 95

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

Leathernecks Grab Statement Win Over Visiting Huskies

MACOMB, Ill – Western Illinois claimed their second victory of the 2023 season in dominating fashion with a 95-62 win over in-state rival Northern Illinois. The Leathernecks move to 2-1 overall on the season.

"This is the team we want to be." Said Head Coach JD Gravina. "This was such a good team win. It was exciting; we were fired up and ready to go, and now we know what kind of team we can be."

The Leathernecks afternoon did not start picture perfect as NIU opened the game on a 7-0 run. The Leathernecks responded with a 9-2 run, tying the game with 2:37 left in the quarter. Western Illinois would take their first lead at 2:13 as Allie Meadows knocked down two free throws. Northern climbed back in front by three with 58 seconds left in the opening frame. WIU got a basket by Mallory McDermott, cutting the deficit to one. With 15 seconds on the clock, Anna Deets would pick off a Huskie pass, giving Western Illinois a chance to take the lead. Kaylen Reed would drive left and dump it off to a wide-open Deets for a buzzer-beating layup as Western Illinois took a 15-14 lead after one.

Western Illinois did not trail the rest of the way. Raegan McCowan gave WIU a nine-point lead at 23-14 as she helped the Leathernecks with a personal 6-0 run. WIU kept their foot on the gas as Kennedy Flanagan would get a bucket to go, giving WIU a 32-20 lead into the media timeout. The Leathernecks opened the second quarter on a 17-6 run in the first five minutes. The game would stabilize in the second five minutes of quarter two as McCowan would get a layup to give WIU a 43-30 lead at the half.

The second half was all Western Illinois as they outscored the Huskies 52-32 in the second half. Anna Deets pushed the lead over the 20-point mark (71-50) with one of her five threes on the night at the 39 second mark in the third quarter. WIU grew their lead to the 30-point mark on another Deets three midway through the fourth quarter. The Leathernecks would trade baskets as Lily Rangaard and Reed put the finishing touches on a 95-63 statement win.

Raegan McCowan set a new career high with 23 points on the afternoon. The freshman followed up her double-double performance with 23 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. She also led the Leathernecks, knocking down eight field goals. Anna Deets was the second-highest score for the Leathernecks. Deets knocked down five threes on her way to 21 points. Deets also grabbed seven rebounds. After going scoreless in the first two games, Kennedy Flanagan erupted for a 15-point showcase on 7-7 shooting. The senior also grabbed a pair of rebounds and dished out two assists. Addi Brownfield did it all this afternoon. She scored 12 points, brought down nine rebounds, dished out six assists, and had five steals and two blocks.

WIU will stay home as they welcome Hannibal-LaGrange on Wednesday (Nov. 15).
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