West Central Reporter

Western Illinois University's women's basketball team secured a spot in the second round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) with a victory over Lipscomb. The game, held at Western Hall, ended with a score of 89-74 in favor of the Leathernecks.

The Leathernecks, now holding a 17-16 record, took an early lead and maintained it throughout most of the game. Key players included Raegan McCowan, who achieved a double-double with 28 points and 15 rebounds, and Mia Nicastro, who contributed 26 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and two blocks. Mallory McDermott added to the team's success with 16 points.

In the opening quarter, Western Illinois established dominance by outscoring Lipscomb 17-10 through effective interior play and fast breaks. Nicastro's early scoring and McCowan's rebounding were significant factors in their performance.

Lipscomb struggled from beyond the arc initially, missing their first five attempts and going scoreless from three-point range in the first quarter. By halftime, WIU had extended their lead to 38-24 following a strong second quarter performance.

Rebounding played a crucial role in WIU's first-half success as they out-rebounded Lipscomb 19-10. This limited Lipscomb's second-chance opportunities while maintaining possession for WIU. In contrast, Lipscomb faced offensive challenges with only five successful three-point shots out of seventeen attempts in the first half.

Despite Lipscomb's third-quarter surge that saw them score 30 points, WIU responded effectively by adding another 28 points to their tally. The Leathernecks' ability to score on fast breaks was pivotal as they amassed 21 fast-break points during the game.

Heading into the fourth quarter with a comfortable lead of 66-54, Western Illinois continued to press forward. Nicastro and McCowan combined for an additional 22 points in this period to secure their victory further. A late-game steal by Nicastro resulted in a fast break layup that sealed WIU's win.

This triumph marks WIU’s first postseason tournament win since March 17th, 2016 when they defeated Southern Illinois during the Women's Basketball Invitational.

Next up for Western Illinois is an away game against Illinois State on Sunday at 2 PM as part of round two of WNIT competition.

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