University News

Leathernecks Ward Off Fighting Illini For Power Five Win

November 22, 2017

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By WIU Athletics

CHAMPAIGN, IL - - A third quarter surge led by the efforts of Taylor Higginbotham and Taylor Hanneman helped the Western Illinois women's basketball team fend off the Illinois Fighting Illini (3-2) for a 77-67 win Tuesday night (Nov. 21).

The Leathernecks (4-1) recorded their first win over a Power Five opponent since Dec. 25, 2005 (at Wisconsin, 70-61).

"Tonight was a big win for our program. I'm really proud of the way we bounced back from such an emotional game on Saturday," said head coach JD Gravina. "Our team really showed some toughness. Things didn't come easy and Illinois made some big runs, but our kids answered them. We really played well down the stretch and hit some big shots. Our rebounding effort really showed how badly we wanted to win the game."

The Leathernecks jumped out to an 11-2 lead early on in the game with a trio of three-pointers by Higginbotham to force an Illini timeout. Western held on to a 20-14 edge after the first quarter.

A 19-0 run by Illinois gave the Illini the lead, but Western was able to stop the attack and counter with a quick, 6-0 spurt to trail 38-31 at the half.

After a huge third quarter performance by Hanneman—who scored 13 of her 19 points in the quarter— the Leathernecks clawed to within one point heading into the fourth.

After the Fighting Illini hit another three, Higginbotham was able to help the Purple and Gold respond with an and-1 to tie it up at 65-all with 3:40 to play. Higginbotham then drained her fifth shot from beyond the arc to give Western a 68-65 lead with 2:33 remaining.

From there, it was Emily Clemens, who drained eight free throws—all in the fourth quarter—for the 10-point win.

Western Illinois has a quick turnaround, as they travel to Chicago State Wednesday night (Nov. 22) at 7 p.m. for the second road contest in as many days.

PROGRAM NOTES:
-The win marks the first victory over a Power Five opponent since the 2005-06 season (Dec. 23, 2005, 70-61 win over Wisconsin on the road)…
-Head coach JD Gravina picked up his first win over a Power Five opponent in his tenure at Western Illinois…

PLAYER NOTES:
-With four steals in tonight's game, Emily Clemens now has 202 steals and is the fifth Leatherneck in program history to surpass the 200-steal mark… eight free throws now makes her the all-time program leader in free throws made with 418, passing Ashley Luke (415)… eight assists mark her 44th career game of five or more assists… Four shy of 500 career assists…

-Taylor Hanneman tied her career-high of five three-pointers made for the third time… Nineteen points also marks her 20th career double-digit scoring effort…

-Taylor Higginbotham recorded her sixth-career double-double of 24 points and 11 rebounds… Twenty-four points is four shy of her career-high 28, which she did twice last season… Her 24 points also marks her 12th career 20-plus point performance… Five three-pointers made is a new career-high… Eleven rebounds is also a career-high… This marks her 16th career game as the team's scoring leader and her 18th career game as the team's rebounds leader…

Posted By: WIU Athletics (SID@wiu.edu)
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