By JOHN BOHNENKAMP

MACOMB, Ill. — It was hard for Western Illinois women’s basketball coach JD Gravina to decide what was more costly in Thursday’s 72-66 loss to Southeast Missouri State at Western Hall — the turnovers or the missed free throws.

“Really,” he said, “aren’t they the same thing?”

They were two sides of the costly empty-possession coin for the Leathernecks (10-3 overall, 1-1 Ohio Valley Conference), who trailed by 15 points in the first half and spent the entire game trying to figure out the 1-3-1 zone of the Redhawks (4-10, 1-2).

Western Illinois made just 23-of-41 free throws and committed 19 turnovers that led to 20 SEMO points.

Both of them (the missed free throws and turnovers) hurt, because they both got us out of a rhythm,” Gravina said. “Free throws can get you into a rhythm, but they can also get you out. You’re getting empty possessions (with the turnovers), you’re missing one of two (free throws). Then it makes you press.”

“Personally, I thought it was the missed free throws,” said freshman guard Raegan McCowan, who led the Leathernecks with 21 points and 13 rebounds. “That’s so unlike us. We’re a good free-throw shooting team. Our normal hitters weren’t hitting, and that just shows what kind of game it was all of the way around.”

“Turnovers are empty possessions, and those hurt,” said sophomore guard Addi Brownfield, who had 18 points. 

The Leathernecks were down 23-14 at the end of the first quarter and were down 32-17 with 6:55 left in the half before rallying to get within 38-32 at halftime.

“They came out and were the more urgent, aggressive team, and it was obvious to anyone in the gym,” Gravina said. “And then that’s who is going to win most of the games. Because you’re playing mental catch-up from that point.”

“That’s probably one of the worst first quarters of basketball we’ve played all year,” McCowan said. “Even though we played that bad, we came back. We were down by what, 15? And we still came back. So that’s a positive.”

Western Illinois had gone 10-for-20 in free throws in the first half. The Leathernecks made 13-of-21 free throws in the second half, but several misses came in key spots in the fourth quarter as they were trying to keep pace with the Redhawks.

“You have some toughness if you’re going to the free-throw line 41 times,” Gravina said. “And you win most games when you’re going to the free-throw line 41 times. But you lose most games when you miss 18 free throws.”

The Leathernecks thought they were prepared for the Redhawks’ defense, but what they ran in practice wasn’t the same as what they saw.

“They run the 1-3-1 zone so well. It’s hard for us to (duplicate) that in practice, so maybe that gave us a false confidence,” Brownfield said. “Coming out, I think we were a little shocked at how well they played it.”

“Honestly, it’s their athleticism and their length,” McCowan said. “We have a practice squad, but it’s hard to mimic their intensity in the 1-3-1. That’s their defense, they’ve got it down to a T. We couldn’t see the open passing lanes just because of how long they were.”

Anna Deets had 12 points and Mallory McDermott added 11 for the Leathernecks.

Alecia Doyle had 17 points to lead the Redhawks.