Little Rock, Ark-  Western Illinois Women's basketball put up a strong fight on the road but ultimately fell to Little Rock, 86-80, on Saturday afternoon.

Sophomore guard Raegan McCowan led the Leathernecks with a  35-point performance, shooting 14-for-23 from the field and adding four rebounds and two steals. Freshman Madison Davis also made a significant impact, contributing 19 points on an efficient 9-of-11 shooting while pulling down eight rebounds.

The Leathernecks started the game slow, trailing 21-16 after the first quarter and 47-34 at halftime. However, the Leathernecks found their rhythm in the second half, outscoring Little Rock 21-15 in the third quarter to cut into the deficit. Despite a strong fourth-quarter push, they couldn't complete the comeback.

Mallory McDermott (11 points) and Allie Meadows (7 points, 40 minutes played) provided additional support, while WIU dominated inside the paint with 44 points scored. WIU also capitalized on fast breaks, scoring 13 points in transition.

Despite their offensive efficiency, WIU struggled to contain Little Rock's balanced scoring attack and second-chance opportunities. The loss drops WIU to 13-14 overall and 7-11 in OVC play.

The Leathernecks will now look to bounce back in their final home game of the season on Tuesday as they will be hosting Lindenwood. It will be Senior Night where Jasmine Nichols, Mallory McDermott, and Kennedy Flanagan will be honored.

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.