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Western Illinois University Athletics

WIU WBB
57
Mt. Mercy MM 0-1
81
Winner Western Ill. WIU 1-0,0-0 OVC
Mt. Mercy MM
0-1
57
Final
81
Western Ill. WIU
1-0,0-0 OVC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Mt. Mercy MM 9 12 23 13 57
Western Ill. WIU 20 13 24 24 81

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

Leathernecks Lead Wire to Wire in Opening Night Win

WIU bench outscores Mount Mercy 54-15

MACOMB, Ill – Western Illinois Women's Basketball picks up win number one with a wire-to-wire victory over the Mount Mercy Mustangs inside Western Hall. WIU started out slow on Monday night before erupting for an 81-57 win. The Leathernecks move to 1-0 on the season.

The offense started slow on opening night for WIU, as they did not score until the 7:45 mark in the first quarter. After that, it was all offense. Anna Deets opened the scoring with a free throw as WIU led early 1-0. WIU continued on the offensive foot as Allie Meadows and Alissa Dins scored, giving WIU a 5-0 lead. With 3:42 left in the first quarter, Raegan McCowan checked in, and it was her show. The Leatherneck guard knocked down four buckets and a free throw for nine points in her opening quarter of collegiate basketball, helping WIU to a 20-9 first-quarter lead. 

The Leathernecks carried their momentum in the second quarter as McCowan got back-to-back baskets to fall, pushing WIU ahead by 14 (31-17) with 2:42 to go. WIU would lock it down on the defensive side of the ball, only allowing four points in the last two and a half minutes, heading into the break ahead 33-21.

Mount Mercy cut the Leatherneck lead down to seven (36-29) with 6:49 left in quarter three, and that's the closest they would get for the rest of the game. Dins, McCowan, and Mallory McDermott scored six straight points, pushing WIU back in front 42-29. With 8 seconds left in the quarter, Kaylen Reed drove left, got stopped at the block, and kicked it out to Lily Rangaard, who buried a three to push WIU ahead 57-44 heading into the final frame.

The Leathernecks were too much for the Mustangs in the final quarter. After two quick free throws by Mount Mercy, WIU used two fast-break baskets by Rangaard to push their lead back out to 14 (62-48) with 7:00 minutes to play. WIU kept on the pressure with six more points, capping off a 9-0 run to push the lead to 19. Western Illinois saw their lead jump over the 20-point mark of a McCowan basket with 2:11 left. WIU finished the evening in style as Reed found Carla Flores with a behind-the-back pass for a layup to camp off an 81-57 victory.

Three Leathernecks scored in double digits. Raegan McCowan led the way with 19 points. Mallory McDermott and Lily Randgaard were right behind her with 12 and 10. Randgaard shot 100% from the field with 4-4 shooting. Addi Brownfield led the assist and rebound category for WIU with four and seven. As a team, WIU shot 47.6% from the field and 27.8% from deep. The Leathernecks knocked down 16 of 23 free throws to shoot 69%. WIU bench outscored Mount Mercy 54-15. 

Western Illinois hits the road next as they travel to Wisconsin on Thursday (Nov. 9th). Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. inside the Kohl Center.
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