West Central Reporter

Western Illinois University's women's basketball team faced a challenging game against Little Rock, resulting in an 86-80 defeat on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore guard Raegan McCowan was a standout performer for the Leathernecks, scoring 35 points with a shooting accuracy of 14-for-23 from the field. She also contributed four rebounds and two steals. Freshman Madison Davis made her presence felt by adding 19 points on an efficient 9-of-11 shooting and securing eight rebounds.

The Leathernecks had a slow start, trailing 21-16 after the first quarter and falling further behind to 47-34 by halftime. They regained momentum in the second half, outscoring Little Rock 21-15 in the third quarter to narrow the gap. Despite their efforts in the fourth quarter, they were unable to overcome Little Rock's lead.

Additional contributions came from Mallory McDermott with 11 points and Allie Meadows who played all 40 minutes, scoring seven points. The team excelled inside the paint with a total of 44 points and capitalized on fast breaks with 13 transition points.

Despite their offensive performance, Western Illinois struggled defensively against Little Rock's balanced scoring and second-chance opportunities. This loss brings Western Illinois' record to 13-14 overall and 7-11 in Ohio Valley Conference play.

Looking ahead, Western Illinois will aim for recovery in their final home game of the season on Tuesday when they host Lindenwood. The event will also serve as Senior Night, honoring Jasmine Nichols, Mallory McDermott, and Kennedy Flanagan.

For ongoing updates about Leatherneck Basketball, fans are encouraged to visit GoLeathernecks.com or follow them on social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.