By JOHN BOHNENKAMP

MACOMB, Ill. — JD Gravina’s voice could be heard over the music playing as he talked to his players during a replay review that wasn’t going to go his team’s way..

Western Illinois’ women’s basketball team had just let a 20-point second-quarter lead against UT-Martin dwindle to one point in the fourth quarter. And with the Skyhawks going to the free-throw line and getting the ball after an intentional foul was called on WIU guard Carla Flores, Gravina had seen enough.

“We’re better than this,” Gravina shouted.

His players got the message, rallying to take a 71-61 win at Western Hall.

Western Illinois (16-7 overall, 7-5 Ohio Valley Conference) would never trail in the game — the Skyhawks tied the game with one of two free throws on the free throws from Norah Clark after the Flores foul, then turned the ball over on the ensuing possession — then got big shots from its veteran players in the final eight minutes.

“I just challenged them a little bit,” Gravina said. “I know we’re better than the way we were playing.”

“We needed that,” said guard Mallory McDermott, who scored 11 of her points in the final 7:06. “It lit a fire under us. We knew we weren’t playing the way we did the whole first half.”

Senior Anna Deets hit a 3-pointer with 7:55 remaining to give Western Illinois a 52-49 lead. McDermott followed with her first-3-pointer 49 seconds later, and the lead was six. An Addi Brownfield 3-pointer with 6:15 to play extended the lead to 58-49.

“Oh, that was awesome,” McDermott said. “That’s the thing about our team — we have so many people who can make big plays down the stretch. I think that’s been important.”

UT-Martin (10-13, 7-5) got to within three points twice in the final three minutes, but McDermott had layups to answer each time. Then Allie Meadows delivered a 3-pointer with 1:03 left, and the Leathernecks finished off the win.

“Mallory hits big shots. Anna hits big shots. Allie hits a big three that kind of put the nail in the coffin,” Gravina said. “It is big. It’s fun for them, fun for the team. They’re kids who have put in the time. With what is going on in college sports, you want those kids who have put in the time to have success.”

“I think it was just a matter of calming down,” McDermott said. “We took only good shots at the end. We settled down, we broke their press. Just staying with it.”

Western Illinois was coming off a 50-41 loss to Little Rock on Thursday, a game in which the Leathernecks shot just 24 percent from the field.

The Leathernecks opened this game with a 25-5 run and led 32-19 at halftime.

“I really pay attention to how a team reacts to a loss, especially one that’s frustrating,” Gravina said. “I think we were pretty frustrated, didn’t have a great practice on Friday, then had a good shootaround today, and a good mentality, and we played well.”

Deets led the Leathernecks with 21 points. Raegan McCowan had 15 points. Meadows had 12.

Anaya Brown led UT-Martin with 25 points.

Western Illinois, which has four of its last six games at home, goes on a two-game road trip this week in a four-way tie for third place in the OVC.

“We keep doing enough to keep ourselves in the hunt,” Gravina said.

“We needed a real momentum win heading into a big week,” McDermott said. “And we think we can make a really big run here.”

Photo: Western Illinois’ Allie Meadows drives to the basket in the second half. (Photo courtesy of WIU Athletic Communications)