LINDENWOOD 91, WIU 69: A Goodbye To The Season And The Long Journeys
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP MACOMB, Ill. — There was a party going on out on the court at Western Hall as Francis Okwuosah sat in the Hall of Fame Room, towel over his head, his college basketball career over. Western Illinois’ 91-69 loss to Lindenwood on Saturday was the final game of the season for the Leathernecks. They finished 5-26 overall, 1-19 in the Ohio Valley Conference, and didn’t qualify for next week’s conference tournament in Evansville, Indiana. That meant Senior Day was the final day for the Leathernecks’ seniors and graduate students, and for Okwuosah, it was the end of … Continue reading LINDENWOOD 91, WIU 69: A Goodbye To The Season And The Long Journeys
LINDENWOOD 50, WIU 49: Leathernecks Celebrate A Title, But Have To Share
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP MACOMB, Ill. — Western Illinois women’s basketball team got a proper celebration and a chance to cut down the nets at Western Hall. The Leathernecks had to share their Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title rather than win … Continue reading LINDENWOOD 50, WIU 49: Leathernecks Celebrate A Title, But Have To Share
IOWA 62, MICHIGAN 44: Heiden Owns Her Space With A ‘Stab And Twist’ Moment
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP IOWA CITY, Iowa — Ashley Sofilkanich stood near the Michigan basket, hands on hips, head down, a sign that she had enough of Iowa’s Ava Heiden. The Wolverines had called timeout, the sellout crowd of Carver-Hawkeye Arena … Continue reading IOWA 62, MICHIGAN 44: Heiden Owns Her Space With A ‘Stab And Twist’ Moment
MOREHEAD STATE 81, WIU 59: Biliew Cherishes Opportunity With Leathernecks
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP MACOMB, Ill, — Goanar Biliew is heading into the final week of his college basketball career knowing he made the right choice to come to Western Illinois for his last season. Biliew matched his season high with 14 points in the Leathernecks’ 81-59 loss to Morehead State in Saturday’s Ohio Valley Conference game at Western Hall. There will be no trip to the OVC tournament for the Leathernecks (5-24 overall, 1-17 conference) this season. Their season will end this week with Thursday’s game at SIUE and next Saturday’s home game against Lindenwood. Those are moments Biliew will … Continue reading MOREHEAD STATE 81, WIU 59: Biliew Cherishes Opportunity With Leathernecks
WIU 74, MOREHEAD STATE 53: Fury In The Fourth Quarter
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP MACOMB, Ill. — Experience matters. It’s why Western Illinois’ women’s basketball team wasn’t rattled at the challenge from Morehead State in the first three quarters of Saturday’s Ohio Valley Conference game at Western Hall. It’s why they knew how, with their lead in the OVC standings at stake and a chance to set up their biggest week of the season, to finish off the game. “We decided in the fourth quarter, it was going to be our game,” said forward Mallory Shetley. And so it was. The Leathernecks smothered Morehead State in the final 10 minutes to … Continue reading WIU 74, MOREHEAD STATE 53: Fury In The Fourth Quarter
IOWA 57, NEBRASKA 52: The Win They Were Seeking
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP IOWA CITY, Iowa — Ben McCollum has already won quite a few games in his first season as Iowa’s men’s basketball coach, but he hadn’t gotten that win, that brick in what he is wanting to build … Continue reading IOWA 57, NEBRASKA 52: The Win They Were Seeking
McCollum Considers Lineup Change To Spark Hawkeyes
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP Iowa’s slow starts in recent games have concerned coach Ben McCollum to the point where he is considering a change to the starting lineup. The Hawkeyes (18-7 overall, 8-6 Big Ten), who lost back-to-back games last week, … Continue reading McCollum Considers Lineup Change To Spark Hawkeyes
THE MONDAY TIPOFF: ‘Scars’ Are Just Part Of What Hawkeyes Are Trying To Build
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP There were going to be nicks and gashes in Ben McCollum’s first season as Iowa’s men’s basketball coach — the losses you endure, the losses you lament. “Scars” are what McCollum called them after Saturday’s 78-57 loss … Continue reading THE MONDAY TIPOFF: ‘Scars’ Are Just Part Of What Hawkeyes Are Trying To Build
PURDUE 78, IOWA 57: An Opportunity Lost For Hawkeyes
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP IOWA CITY, Iowa — Ben McCollum and his players knew an opportunity was missed. The setup was perfect on Saturday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena — a sellout crowd for the first time this season, a nationally-ranked opponent in … Continue reading PURDUE 78, IOWA 57: An Opportunity Lost For Hawkeyes
LITTLE ROCK 77, WIU 58: A Defeat That Felt Like The Others
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP MACOMB, Ill. — It was a defeat that felt oh-so-familiar. Western Illinois’ 77-58 men’s basketball loss to Little Rock on Thursday night at Western Hall was the 22nd defeat of the season, and it featured so much … Continue reading LITTLE ROCK 77, WIU 58: A Defeat That Felt Like The Others
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