Game # 13

Western Illinois (11-2, 3-1 OVC) vs Tennessee State (2-11, 1-3 OVC) 

Match Information:

Date: Thursday, Jan. 8, 2025

Location: Macomb, IL

Venue: Western Hall

Tip-Off: 5 p.m. CT

Last Meeting: Feb. 6, 2025, L 66-70

Live Stats: Stats

Live Video: Watch

Matchup

The Western Illinois women's basketball team continues conference play by hosting the Tennessee State Tigers. The Leathernecks are 11-2 this season. Western Illinois is in its third year in the Ohio Valley Conference. 

Last Time Out

Last time out, Western Illinois went 1–1 on its road swing, opening the trip with a double-overtime battle at UT Martin before earning a 58–51 Ohio Valley Conference win at Southeast Missouri. The Leathernecks pushed the Skyhawks to double overtime in an 86–78 setback on Jan. 1, led by Mia Nicastro's game-high 25 points and 13 rebounds, while Addi Brownfield added a 21-point, 11-rebound double-double and knocked down a game-tying three late in regulation. WIU closed the trip with a strong fourth-quarter effort at SEMO, outscoring the Redhawks 20–12 in the final period behind 29 points from Nicastro to secure the road victory.

Scouting the Tigers

Tennessee State enters the 2025-26 campaign as a gritty, competitive squad that has battled a tough schedule while seeking consistency in Ohio Valley Conference play. The Lady Tigers have faced several challenging non-conference opponents and showcased their resilience with an 82-76 home win over North Alabama, highlighting their ability to compete in tight games. TSU's offense is led by guard Aaniya Webb, who tops the team in scoring and creates offense for others, while forward Kiki Roberts anchors the boards with physical rebounding and second-chance opportunities. Tennessee State also gets contributions from Xai Whitfield in playmaking and Somah Kamara in defensive pressure. Defensively, the Tigers emphasize effort and hustle, though shooting percentages and turnovers have been areas they've worked to improve as they look to climb the OVC standings.

Up Next

The Leathernecks will hit the road to face Eastern Illinois Jan. 13 at 5pm, and Little Rock Jan. 17 at 1pm. For more information, go to https://goleathernecks.com/sports/womens-basketball/schedule.

FOLLOW THE LEATHERNECKS 

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