By JOHN BOHNENKAMP

MACOMB, Ill. — At some point, Raegan McCowan said, the shots are going to fall for Western Illinois’ women’s basketball team.

Thursday’s 73-60 loss to UT-Martin at Western Hall was the latest in a frustrating stretch for the Leathernecks (7-7 overall, 1-4 Ohio Valley Conference).

Western Illinois shot just 32.3% from the field, 26.9% in 3-pointers. And it wasn’t like the Leathernecks weren’t getting good looks at the basket.

“I think we need to keep our heads down, keep going, keep working harder,” said McCowan, who led the Leathernecks with 21 points but was just 8 of 23 from the field. “Basketball is a numbers game. We know we weren’t hitting tonight, but we know we can hit those shots in the future.”

The shooting struggles were up and down the Leathernecks’ lineup. Forward Mia Nicastro was 2 of 10, guard Addi Brownfield was 2 of 9, guard Mallory McDermott was 2 of 8.

“We got a lot of good shots,” Western Illinois coach JD Gravina said. “I told the team at halftime, we’re better than that. We’re better at practice, we’re better at open gyms, and we’ve got to play that way.”

UT-Martin (6-10, 3-2), the OVC’s automatic qualifier into the NCAA tournament last season, took control of the game by outscoring the Leathernecks 22-11 in the second quarter.

Western Illinois also committed 18 turnovers, and while those only led to 17 points from the Skyhawks, they were empty possessions the Leathernecks couldn’t afford.

“The first half, boy, I thought we really defended,” Gravina said. “But when you can’t hit shots, it’s like you’re giving them too many opportunities. It’s like in football, you can play great defense, but if your offense is going three-and-out every time, the other team is eventually going to score.”

“I think you miss a couple of shots here and there, maybe spirits get a little low, and then they make a couple of tough shots, shots they normally don’t make, and the basket gets bigger for them,” McCowan said. “That’s the difference in the game, right there.”

Meadows had 11 points and Brownfield added 10. Anaya Brown had 26 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Skyhawks.

The Leathernecks have lost six of their last eight games.

“It is a mental game,” Gravina said. “There’s kind of two alleys of confidence. One is individual, and one is team, and we’re struggling with both. We can fight our way through it until things start to click.”

“We know we can be there with the top teams in the conference,” McCowan said. “Like I said, if we keep our heads down, keep working, we’ll make a run.”

Photo: WIU’s Raegan McCowan (left) shoots over UT-Martin’s Norah Clark in the first half. (Photo courtesy of WIU Athletic Communications)