MACOMB, Ill- The Western Illinois Women's Leatherneck Basketball team narrowly fell to Little Rock by a final score of 65-60 at Western Hall on Thursday night. Despite a strong start, the Leathernecks couldn't hold off a late surge by the visiting Trojans.
The Leathernecks started strong, taking a 17-13 lead after the first quarter, with Allie Meadows and Raegan McCowan hitting key shots from beyond the arc. Meadows finished with 13 points, including three three-pointers, while McCowan led WIU with 16 points and six rebounds. Addi Brownfield was a force on the boards, pulling down a career-high 14 rebounds to go along with 10 points, earning a double-double.
Little Rock relied on their aggressive defense and fast-paced transition game to stay in the fight. The Trojans turned 24 WIU turnovers into 30 points.
The game saw six ties and five lead changes, with WIU holding a slim 31-28 lead midway through the third quarter. However, Little Rock used a 23-point fourth quarter to surge ahead.
WIU out-rebounded Little Rock 39-29 and scored 12 second-chance points, but their struggles in handling Little Rock's pressure proved costly. Despite shooting 19-of-24 from the free-throw line, the Leathernecks couldn't overcome their turnover woes.
WIU will now host SEMO on Saturday with tip-off scheduled for 1 p.m.
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