CHARLESTON, Ill- Western Illinois Women's Basketball put forth a valiant effort but ultimately fell to Eastern Illinois on the road by a score of 70-60.
Trailing throughout most of the game, the Leathernecks (7-6, 1-3 OVC) showcased their resilience, led by standout performances from Raegan McCowan and Mia Nicastro. McCowan poured in a team-high 22 points while adding 7 rebounds, showing her versatility on both ends of the court. Nicastro contributed 18 points and 3 rebounds, consistently battling in the paint.
Despite the loss, WIU demonstrated toughness, particularly from the free-throw line, where they converted 26-of-30 attempts. Their defensive pressure also caused the Panthers to commit 14 turnovers, scoring 13 points off those turnovers.
Despite the Leathernecks struggling from beyond the arc, they made their mark inside the paint, scoring 24 points and pushing the pace for 16 fast-break points.
In the final quarter, Western Illinois mounted a comeback with a 22-point surge but couldn't close the gap as Eastern Illinois managed to hold on for the win.
The Leathernecks will look to bounce back on Thursday night as they will return to Western Hall to take on UT Martin. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
FOLLOW THE LEATHERNECKS
For all the latest information on Leatherneck Basketball, please visit GoLeathernecks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Leathernecks on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
