Macomb, Ill- Raegan McCowan etched her name into Western Illinois history Thursday night, reaching 1,000 points for her career as the Leathernecks surged in the second half to defeat previously undefeated Eastern Illinois 62-52 at Western Hall. Not only did McCowan score 1,000 career points, she also became the fastest player in Leatherneck Women's Basketball history to score 1,000 points, doing it in only 50 games played.
McCowan poured in a game-high 23 points, including 11 free throws, to become the latest member of WIU's prestigious 1,000-point club. She added eight rebounds and two blocks in a dominant performance.
The Leathernecks (11-9, 5-6 OVC) struggled early, trailing 26-24 at halftime, but McCowan and Mia Nicastro (20 points) fueled a massive 26-point third quarter that flipped the momentum. Nicastro shot 9-of-18 from the field and came up big in the paint.
McCowan's milestone moment came in the middle of the fourth quarter when she got fouled and went to the line for two. She calmly sank the free throw, pushing her career total to 1,000 points and extending the lead for the Leathernecks.
Eastern Illinois (13-7, 10-1 OVC) entered as the conference leader but couldn't keep pace after the break. The Panthers were led by Macy McGlone's 16 points and seven rebounds.
After a slow first half, McCowan sparked the turnaround, scoring nine in the third, including a crucial and-one layup that ignited the home crowd. Holding a 47-35 advantage heading into the fourth, WIU turned to its defense to close out the win. The Leathernecks held Eastern Illinois to just nine points in the final period, forcing turnovers and contesting shots at every turn. A late free throw from McCowan put the game on ice, securing the victory and cementing her milestone moment.
The Leathernecks will look to keep rolling as they will host SIUE on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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