West Central Reporter

Western Illinois University's women's basketball team achieved their first conference win of the season with a decisive 75-48 victory over Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) in an Ohio Valley Conference game. The match took place at the First Community Arena in Edwardsville, Illinois. This win improved Western Illinois' record to 7-5 overall and 1-2 in conference play, while SIUE's record dropped to 2-10 overall and 0-3 in the OVC.

The game began slowly for both teams, but Western Illinois found their stride in the second quarter, outscoring SIUE 17-8 to secure a 29-17 lead by halftime. They continued their strong performance into the second half, particularly excelling in the third quarter with 24 points.

Raegan McCowan led Western Illinois with her second consecutive double-double, scoring a game-high of 22 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Her efforts were crucial in breaking down SIUE's defense. Addi Brownfield contributed significantly with 12 points and seven rebounds. Allie Meadows added another 10 points and four assists, while Mia Nicastro played a key defensive role with two blocks and eight rebounds.

The Leathernecks demonstrated effective teamwork with 18 assists, highlighting their ball movement and unselfish play. They also capitalized on SIUE's mistakes, converting the Cougars' 18 turnovers into 22 points. The bench provided additional support with Kennedy Flanagan scoring eight points and Madison Davis adding six.

Defensively, Western Illinois limited SIUE to just a 26.6% shooting percentage from the field. Ava Gugliuzza was SIUE's top scorer with 13 points, including two three-pointers, while Halle Smith added ten points for the Cougars.

Rebounding was another area where Western Illinois excelled, outrebounding SIUE by a margin of five (45-40). Their control on defensive boards restricted SIUE's opportunities for second-chance points and facilitated their transition game, resulting in 19 fast-break points. Efficient shooting from the free-throw line (82.6%) and dominance inside the paint contributed significantly to their victory.

Looking ahead, Western Illinois will face Eastern Illinois University (EIU) Panthers next in Charleston, Illinois. EIU currently leads the OVC standings with a perfect conference record of 3-0. The game is scheduled for tip-off at 1 p.m.

For more information on Leatherneck Basketball or updates on future games, fans can visit GoLeathernecks.com or follow them on social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.