West Central Reporter

The Western Illinois Women's Basketball team faced a challenging game against Southern Indiana, resulting in a 72-58 defeat on Saturday at Liberty Arena. Despite the loss, the Leathernecks displayed determination and notable individual performances in this Ohio Valley Conference matchup.

Raegan McCowan led the scoring with 18 points, shooting at 50%. She also contributed three rebounds and made crucial shots during a strong third-quarter effort. Mallory McDermott added support with 13 points, maintaining a perfect record from the free-throw line. Addi Brownfield scored 12 points and secured four rebounds before fouling out late in the fourth quarter.

Trailing by 19 points at halftime, WIU showed renewed energy after the break, scoring 26 points in the third quarter—almost matching their first-half total. McCowan and McDermott were instrumental in narrowing the deficit to single digits at one stage.

Defensively, WIU forced Southern Indiana into 15 turnovers and limited them to 40% shooting in the second half. The Leathernecks improved their ball handling by committing only one turnover in the third quarter, allowing them to take advantage of offensive opportunities. However, they were unable to secure enough defensive stops to complete a comeback.

Looking ahead, WIU will host four consecutive home games at Western Hall. Their next game is scheduled for Thursday night at 5 p.m., where they will face Little Rock.

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