West Central Reporter

Western Illinois University's women's basketball team faced a narrow defeat against Lindenwood, with the final score at 63-59. The game took place on Saturday afternoon at Robert F. Hyland Arena in Saint Charles, Missouri.

Raegan McCowan led the Leathernecks with an impressive performance, scoring a game-high of 26 points. She achieved this by shooting 7-for-14 from the field and making all 12 of her free throws. Additionally, McCowan contributed six rebounds and a block.

The Leathernecks began the game strongly, securing a 31-18 lead by halftime. However, they could not maintain their momentum as Lindenwood rallied in the second half. Lindenwood outscored Western Illinois 45-28 in the last two quarters, including a significant 23-point effort in the fourth quarter.

Mallory McDermott supported the team's efforts with 11 points, including three critical three-pointers. Mia Nicastro added seven points and four rebounds to the tally, while Addi Brownfield had four points, four rebounds, and two blocks before fouling out late in the game.

Despite nearly matching Lindenwood's rebounding total with 34 compared to their opponent's 35, Western Illinois struggled with turnovers and experienced a cold shooting streak in the fourth quarter that proved decisive.

Looking ahead, Western Illinois will aim to recover as they return home to face Clarke University at Western Hall on December 30th. The game is set to tip off at 7 p.m.

For further updates on Leatherneck Basketball, fans can visit GoLeathernecks.com or follow them on social media platforms X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.