FARGO, N.D. - Western
Illinois women's basketball (11-17, 7-10) fell 73-53 to North Dakota State (10-19, 7-10) on Saturday night inside the
Bison Sports Arena. NDSU won the rebounding battle 43-28 while shooting 51.7
percent from the field.
The Bison and Leathernecks played an even first few minutes until
Sadie Webb gave Western a 7-5 lead with a long jumper at the 16:50 mark. North
Dakota State answered quickly with three consecutive baskets to give the home
team a 12-7 lead at the 14:45 mark.
The Bison's momentum would continue until Webb knocked down
a triple to cut the deficit to 18-12 with 12:15 left before the break.
NDSU continued to shoot the ball extremely well and a
Danielle Muri jumper extended its lead to 25-16 with just under nine minutes
left in the first half.
Christina Jones drove to the the basket and found room for a short
jumper to get the Leathernecks within 35-24 at the 1:42 mark to continue an 8-2
run for Western. Valencia Kelly drilled a three-pointer to cut the deficit to
10 at 37-27.
NDSU found Janae Burich just before the buzzer to slow
Western's momentum but the Leathernecks did end the first half on an 11-6 run.
At the break, NDSU held onto a 39-27 lead powered by 11 points from Jamie Van
Kirk. Kelly led the Purple & Gold with seven points while Jackie Rieger
pulled down seven boards.
The Bison shot 56.3 percent from the floor including 11
points off turnovers and 24 points-in-the-paint.
The Bison started the second half on a 10-0 run and led
47-27 with 16:18 left in the game. The first Leatherneck points of the second
half came from two free throws from Saule Kontautaite at the 16-minute mark.
Western was able to string together a 7-3 run to bring the
disadvantage to 50-34 with under 15 minutes left in regulation. Karis Phillips
knocked down a baseline jumper to make it 53-40 with 10:48 left in the game and
forced NDSU take a timeout.
The Bison would control the remainder of the contest and
earn the season split with the 73-53 victory.
Kelly would lead the Leathernecks with 11 points while
Rieger pulled down 11 rebounds. Four Bison finished in double-figures led by 16
from Dani DeGagne.
The Leathernecks will conclude the regular season
in Brookings, S.D. on Feb. 27 with a 7 p.m. game with South Dakota State. The
Jackrabbits cruised to a win in Macomb, 82-56, the first time the teams met.
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