BROOKINGS, S.D. – After the exciting double-overtime victory Thursday (Jan. 2) night, the Western Illinois women’s basketball team took on the #14 in the Mid-Major poll, South Dakota State, Saturday (Jan.4) afternoon falling 74-45.
“We are just better basketball players than that,” said head coach JD Gravina. “But I was proud of them, that first half we batt, and then they came out and hit threes on their first three possessions, but we battled back.”
On the road to 1,000 career points, Olivia Kaufmann hit the first basket of the game. The Leathernecks battled for a close start tied at 6-6 in the first four minutes. Jackrabbits on an 11-0 run took the significant lead to end the first.
The Leathernecks worked away to put the deficit within five at the beginning of the second quarter with a three-pointer from Grace Gilmore. The Jackrabbits took off yet again, as Alissa Dins came in off the bench with an impressive six-minute first-half performance with four rebounds and one assist.
At the start of the second half, WIU came out with a strong offensive push highlighted by back-to-back threes from Sam Pryor. SDSU finished the quarter with a drive of their own before Dins came in yet again, notching two points.
The Jackrabbits continued their drive in the fourth quarter finalizing the score 75-45, SDSU.
Dins finished the game with a career-high eight rebounds and 17 minutes.
“Alissa really played well,” added Gravina. “She did some good things. If she can rebound like that, it could be really big.”
Pryor coming off her heroic performance at North Dakota State Thursday (Jan. 2) night, led the team with 12 points followed by Danni Nichols (9) and Gilmore (8).
Kauffman’s quest to 1,000 career points fell just short at 998 with her six points. She will look to reach her milestone in Western Hall in front of a Leatherneck crowd with just two more points.
The
Leathernecks will return home where they will take on two more Summit
League opponents in the upcoming week with Purdue Fort Wayne Thursday
(Jan. 9) and Oral Roberts Saturday (Jan. 12).
