By JOHN BOHNENKAMP

MACOMB, Ill. — Western Illinois’ women’s basketball team struggled to make shots in the first half of Tuesday’s Ohio Valley Conference opener against Tennessee Tech, and yet the halftime score was tied.

The Leathernecks had the same trouble in the second half, and it cost them in a 72-52 loss.

Western Illinois (5-4 overall) shot 33% in the second half, with Tennessee Tech (7-3) taking control of the game in the third quarter by outscoring the Leathernecks 29-14.

“Our spacing wasn’t good,” Western Illinois coach JD Gravina said. “We weren’t moving the ball, and they were taking advantage of that.”

Tennessee Tech collapsed on the Leathernecks any time they tried to get the ball inside to Raegan McCowan and Mia Nicastro. McCowan, who came into the game leading the OVC in scoring, had just 14 points on 5 of 16 shooting. Nicastro led the Leathernecks with 18 points.

“We just weren’t creating any openings for Raegan or Mia,” Gravina said. “So every time we got the ball into them, they got double-teamed. And we weren’t hitting outside shots, so that didn’t open anything up.”

Western Illinois made just 6 of 22 3-pointers. Only four Leathernecks — Nicastro, McCowan, Addi Brownfield and Allie Meadows — had field goals. The other eight Western Illinois players who played went 0 of 11 from the field.

It was the third consecutive double-digit loss for the Leathernecks, a streak that started with a 95-52 defeat at Cincinnati.

“We’ve got to get some other players going,” Gravina said. “We haven’t been right since the Cincinnati game, and we’ve got to get back to who we are.”

The game was tied at 30 at halftime despite the Leathernecks having similar shooting and spacing issues.

“We missed some shots early (the Leathernecks were 5 of 17 from the field for the first quarter) and we just couldn’t get into a rhythm,” Gravina said. “We were tied at halftime, and I thought it could have been worse, but I thought we would shoot the ball better in the second half.”

Tennessee Tech opened the third quarter with a 7-0 run, and then went on an 11-0 run to close the quarter after the Leathernecks got to within 48-44 with 3:12 to play.

“They started making shots, and when it rains, it pours,” Gravina said.

Peyton Carter led Tennessee Tech with 15 points. Chloe Larry had 13 points.

Photo: Western Illinois guard Addi Brownfield (center) looks for an opening to drive against Tennessee Tech’s defense in the first half of Tuesday’s game. (WIU Athletic Communications)