West Central Reporter

Western Illinois University's women's basketball team faced a challenging game against Tennessee State, resulting in a 70-66 loss at the Gentry Center in Nashville. The Leathernecks, with a record of 12-10 overall and 6-7 in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), held a strong lead for most of the match but were unable to maintain it in the final quarter.

In the first half, Western Illinois established control by limiting Tennessee State to just 16 points while building a significant lead of 30-16. Raegan McCowan played a crucial role during this period, achieving a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds.

However, Tennessee State shifted momentum in the second half by outscoring Western Illinois 54-36 over the last two quarters. A notable third-quarter performance saw them score 30 points, largely due to their effective transition offense which capitalized on Western Illinois' turnovers. These turnovers resulted in converting 24 mistakes into 22 points.

Despite facing difficulties, Western Illinois had several standout players. Addi Brownfield recorded 12 points, along with 11 rebounds and six assists before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Mallory McDermott added another 12 points and Mia Nicastro contributed with 11 points.

For Tennessee State, Saniah Parker led her team with an impressive performance scoring 18 points and securing four steals. Somah Kamara also supported strongly with an additional contribution of 17 points. Their defense played a critical role by forcing errors from Western Illinois during key moments, culminating in a decisive late-game run.

The Leathernecks are set to face UT Martin next on Saturday as they travel to Martin, Tennessee for their upcoming game scheduled at 1 p.m.

For more information on Leatherneck Basketball updates can be found at GoLeathernecks.com or by following their social media channels including X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.