MACOMB, Ill- On a night dedicated to honoring the Seniors, WIU Women's Basketball delivered a performance to remember, taking down Lindenwood 75-70 in front of an electric crowd at Western Hall.
WIU (14-14, 8-11 OVC) fed off the energy in the building, coming out strong and never backing down against one of the top teams in the conference. Junior Forward Mia Nicastro put on a show, pouring in 25 points on an efficient 10-of-15 shooting, while Raegan McCowan dominated inside with a double-double of 19 points and a season-high 15 rebounds.
The Leathernecks played a physical game, outworking Lindenwood (20-8, 16-3 OVC) on the glass with a 48-31 rebounding advantage. Second-chance points proved to be a difference-maker, as WIU turned 17 offensive rebounds into 13 points.
While the Leathernecks controlled much of the action, Lindenwood refused to go away quietly. The Lions, led by Brooke Coffey (16 points) and Ellie Brueggemann (15 points), made a furious push in the fourth quarter, outscoring WIU 25-19. The pressure was on, but the Leathernecks stood tall, making key defensive stops in the closing minutes to seal the victory. The Leathernecks were up by as much as 11 in the fourth quarter, and the Lions made two quick threes late in the game to cut the Leatherneck lead to 72-68 with 42 seconds remaining. Addi Brownfield would knock down three free throws in the final 42 seconds of the game and would get the final defensive rebound of the game to seal the victory for WIU.
Allie Meadows provided a huge spark from beyond the arc, draining four three-pointers to finish with 12 points, while Madison Davis was a defensive force with three steals.
The night was all about WIU's seniors, who got one last W inside Western Hall. Jasmine Nichols started the game tonight and played 8 minutes, knocking down her only shot of the game, which was a three pointer from the top of the key in the first half. Kennedy Flanagan also got the start for the Leathernecks, playing 13 minutes and grabbing 3 rebounds and getting one assist. WIU gave their fans one last memorable moment at home, ending the regular season on a high note and building momentum for the final stretch of the season.
The Leathernecks will now hit the road as they will be taking on Tennessee Tech on Thursday night in Cookeville, TN. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 PM.
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