MACOMB, Ill. — Western Illinois women's basketball is earning national recognition ahead of the NCAA Tournament, as USA Today featured the Leathernecks in its March Madness preview.

The article spotlighted senior guard Mia Nicastro as a player to watch, noting she has "the potential to wreck an entire bracket" heading into tournament play.

Nicastro, the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year, has put together one of the top seasons in the country. The 6-foot-2 guard ranks fourth nationally in scoring at 24.2 points per game while also averaging 8.8 defensive rebounds per game. She is shooting 52.2 percent from the field, 38.8 percent from three-point range, and 89.5 percent from the free throw line.

The St. Charles, Missouri native has scored 30 or more points in six games this season and has proven she can produce against top competition, including a 20-point performance earlier this year against Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball.

According to the USA Today preview, Nicastro ranks among national leaders in advanced metrics, including win shares and player efficiency rating, further highlighting her impact on both ends of the floor.

Western Illinois will open NCAA Tournament play against North Carolina Tar Heels women's basketball in the first round on Friday, March 20th.

To read the full article from USA Today, click here

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